Rihan, Shaked, Sunday, May 28, 2006, AMObservers: Sandra R, Chana H (reporting)06:35 – 08:40Rihan: The checkpoint only opened at 06:00. The people passing into the seam zone told us that passage over the last week has only been by permits, and that there are no more lists.Time from entrance to the terminal to the exit is 4-5 minutes.Though the checkpoint opened late, there are no people waiting by the gate.At the vehicle crossing, one car is waiting while its cargo is being checked. Another one waits in line.There is no armed soldier, with rifle pointing, at the entrance gate. People tell us that they are satisfied with the new soldiers, who are more experienced.Shaked, 07:10: The soldiers are there, but the checkpoint is closed while a long opening “ceremony” takes place.At 07:16 passage begins. People and children from the lone house cross toward the West Bank. Four workers from Tura go into the seam zone, and only after that the schoolchildren, one by one, according to the list. The children are going for exams, and on June 1 the holidays begin.The old man with the donkey from Tura wants to pass as usual into the seam zone. He is delayed, and after a check is sent back.Rihan, 07:45: A vehicle with produce is being inspected, and only one more is waiting in line.The Palestinian parking lot appears particularly empty today.At the vehicle crossing, there is a line of seven cars because passage has been stopped (for a meal break?). When work is renewed, the procedure is normal and quick.We met the father in law of Yusuf Amrani, who was arrested at Rihan on May 16, and they still don’t know why he was arrested. They have not been allowed to visit him or bring clothes, and the lawyer who is handling his case has not been told the reason for the arrest. He will be brought before a judge on June 6.The checkpoints are now being closed for passage of Palestinians at 21:00. The checkpoints remain staffed in order to let settlers through, or to deal with exceptional cases (such as the funeral in Yabed which took place yesterday). In one case where two Palestinians arrived at the checkpoint at 23:00, the soldiers did not want to talk to them – and they were finally allowed through only at 02:00.