Rihan, Thursday, November 24, 2005, AMObservers: Hedva H., Revital S. (reporting)09:15 – 11:15We arrived at a time of unusually heavy pressure of military vehicles and police cars. We were also greeted by a sign reading “Residents of Hermesh and Mevo Dotan – please bypass to the right (as if they could pass to the left!) on the Israeli side of the vehicle checkpoint. The parking lots were also fuller than usual.It quickly became clear that the army and police were deploying on the spot in advance of a demonstration due to take place at 10:00.Meanwhile there were five detainees in the “cage,” and they had apparently been there already for half an hour. They were released half an hour later.We were approached by holders of agricultural passes for Kapin Gate, who had come to Rihan because Kapin was closed following stone throwing – though they of course hadn’t known that. From the District Coordination Office, we learned that Kapin Gate was due to reopen around noon. We reported that to the Palestinians in the hope that it would indeed happen.At 10:00 there was indeed a demonstration against the checkpoint by Barta’a residents. They raised Palestinian flags and carried signs with the legends:“I like to stroll with my grandfather and grandmother, why do you deprive me of that pleasure?”“Why do you seek to insult me?”“It is our right to buy what we want and all that we want, without permission from anyone!”“Yes to two states, no to two prisons!”“Yes to peace!”The demonstration was peaceful and short. None of the journalists that we tried to attract thought that it was of any interest.At no stage of the shift were there more than six cars at the vehicle checkpoint. We saw at least two vehicles laden with fruit and vegetables that passed through after a check. Conversely, a resident of Barta’a coming back from the territories with 10 kilograms of home-grown tobacco, which a day earlier he had taken to the West Bank to process because he didn’t have the means, was not allowed to pass, even though he had been promised on his way out that there would be no problem in returning.Two UN vehicles were delayed at the vehicle checkpoint for almost an hour, in the direction of Israel from the West Bank.In overall terms, from a layman’s viewpoint – the system works. The checkpoints are almost empty, there is no point in trying to get to them. The only ones who pass are those whose services Israel needs. And the second cumulative conclusion – the media are collaborating in order that the Israeli public will not know what happens in its name in the territories – five minutes from Kfar Sava.