Rihan, Thursday, October 6, 2005, AM Observers: Hedva. H., Hassida S., (reporting)12.15-10.15Summary: a frustrating shift due to the difficulties of the closure, a feast for the Jews, a “fast” for the Arabs.RihanWhen we arrived there were four detainees in the shed; they said they had been waiting for two hours. It seemed somewhat exaggerated to us. After 10 minutes two were released and the rest, including one more person, were detained a little longer until the pertinent information came through the computer. We observed no special events. The soldiers were polite and practical, but they carried out the closure orders they had. The results seemed harsh to us:• Seam line zone permit holders, residents of the villages, passed through the checkpoint without any problems. • Agricultural permit holders or any other form of work, even a permit from a certified Israeli firm, are not allowed through. Only landowners from the seam line zone are permitted to cross over to their fields in the West Bank, but only through the gates specified in their permits. The gates open only for a designated period of time, not at parallel times and occasionally only in one direction, which makes it difficult for the farmers to plan their workday. The olive harvest is beginning and it seems the familiar problems from last year will occur again.• Commercial permit holders, who can usually travel freely in Israel (excluding Eilat) cannot pass. One of them tried to cross over in Jalama and was sent from there to Rihan. At Rihan one of the soldiers told us that perhaps he would be able to pass through at the Ephraim Gate since they “let people through.” When we asked for more specific information, we were told that at the Ephraim Gate people with blue IDs can cross over to the West Bank. And should they want to return? That remains unclear.And so because of the Jewish holiday, the Palestinians cannot make a living, and those working in Israel may even lose their place of work because they are forced to stay away from work for a long time.It seems as if the closure has become permanent, and the upper echelons do not update the soldiers at the checkpoint. This increases the already existing bitterness and the deeply embedded affront at the constant reliance on the occupier.The vehicle checkpoint was very quiet. We saw one truck, probably a vegetable merchant, whose crates were being inspected on the road. In addition, a number of taxis crossed over to the West Bank.