Rihan, Tuesday, 17.1.06 PM Observers and reporting: Shula B, Mara B”D14:00 – 15:15 14:00 Shaked Checkpoint The gates are open, with a military vehicle standing by. No walkers or drivers from either direction. Completely quiet. The schools are still on holiday. Rihan Checkpoint Despite the end of the festival, almost no cars, and the ones who do come are checked and pass quickly.Tenders with produce – we only saw two waiting and one at the checkpoint, being checked thoroughly. Everything is offloaded and checked, item by item, with a hand magnometer.At the pedestrian crossing, there is also little traffic.(the coffee boys – Walid and Said – would be very happy to receive clothes, and Said has already asked for the second time that we bring him a bicycle)The terminal worked. We did not speak to any soldier because we did not meet them.Towards our departure, at 15:15, we were stopped in the Bartaa residents’ parking lot by a resident of East Bartaa, Jemal, who was very angry at his experience and that of his family at the checkpoint. He mainly complained about what had happened to his family on the eve of the festival (Monday last week). According to him, he and his wife were detained at the checkpoint for many hours for no reason – to the point where the checkpoint commander apologised to him.We gave him our phone numbers in the event that he was stopped again. Jemal is also convinced that our presence prevents prolonged delays which happen often in our absence.