Rihan, Shaked, Thursday, May 19, 2005, AMObservers: Chedva H., Ana N-S. (reporting)10:45, RihanNew signs are everywhere on site and at the upper car park area there is a sign with arrows going in both directions. Green arrow (go): a road for Israeli cars only. Red arrow (stop): A passage for Palestinian cars. A perfect symmetry between colors and related groups.There is a new concept in military word-laundering: What used to be called a dungeon is now referred to as a “shabachia” (a place for illegal aliens). Two soldiers, apparently from the new battalion on site, tell us with great determination that there is absolutely no such term. We insist, and then one of them admits it, and points to a small prefabricated structure made of white metal, without windows. The soldiers explain that this facility is used for a thorough inspection of “heavyweight” wanted suspects, and that they are held there until the arrival of the blue (civilian) police. We go to look at this shack. There are no windows, no floor, not a chair, not to mention water or any other sanitary conditions. Those detained there simply sit on the sand floor inside this dark, small, sealed warehouse. In these hot days, one can fry there.We followed what was going on in that facility during our shift and realized that if its door was wide open, no one was being held there.The closure continues, and passage is permitted to the seam-line zone residents only.A family of Arab Israelis from Um al-Fahem returns from a family visit in one of the villages in the West Bank. They go through the checkpoint with no difficulties.A resident of one of the villages in the West Bank, who owns a garage in Barta’a, is not allowed to pass through the gate to work. He has no passage permit, and according to him, he is barred from obtaining one. Major Bassem from the Salem District Coordination Office (DCO) clarifies the picture: Following the discovery of a number of illegal businesses in Barta’a, it was decided not to give seam line zone residents passage permits, but only to business owners who are residents of Barta’a. That means a sweeping, collective punishment.A Palestinian who is married to a woman from Nazareth wants to enter Israel. Their daughter is gravely ill and is hospitalized. His wife called for him and he thought that the Supreme Court papers he holds, indicating his request for family unification, will be sufficient to allow his urgent passage. He is extremely concerned about his daughter’s condition, but there is law and order. First he must go to the DCO to obtain a permit. We gave him the telephone number of the humanitarian center. They offered to help should there be any difficulties. A resident of the West Bank needs to see a doctor in Barta’a, where he’ll get a referral to a hospital in Nazareth. He holds ample documentation about the medical care he has been receiving recently. He too could not go through without a permit. He looks very much alive, he breathes and even talks. Bassem, from the Salem DCO, says: “A humanitarian case is only declared when a person’s brain is outside his head.”A number of youngsters, carrying bags, one with shirts and socks in the other, wish to bring them to their store in Barta’a. They are being sent to Jalama (which is the commercial checkpoint for goods from north of Jenin. whoever goes through there, actually enters the state of Israel, and for that one needs a special permit, which is almost impossible to obtain). Why Jalama, when their final destination is a stone’s throw from Rihan? The soldier is angry: “Every day you try to get in, every day the same story, you won’t go through, Go away!”A female soldier had confiscated an expired passage permit from a man. He is angry, screams and insist on getting back his document, claims he needs it in order to extend it. A soldier explains that he has been ordered to confiscate any invalid document, which has expired, but the man can’t calm down.Detainees:Upon our arrival there were 9 people inside the pen, who were joined by 5 more later on. Most of them are about 30 years of age. The benches were removed, so people stand, sit, or kneel on their plastic bags. They crowded into the shady area and told us that they have been there since 8:30 this morning.Commander A. says: “They know that we can’t detain them for more than 3 hours and therefore exaggerate.” When he listens to their requests to us for help, he explains: “Every day the same story, they keep going out to seek jobs in Israel knowing that it is forbidden, so they should pay the price. They should learn the lesson.”I wonder if this young soldier has ever experienced poverty. His comments show ignorance, not necessarily meanness. We try to explain to him one or two facts about hardship, driving these people to break the law and endanger themselves, by entering Israel illegally. But he stands his ground: “I know them.”We ask that at least they could bring back the benches and arrange for more shady areas, The hot summer weather is already here. He doesn’t commit to anything: “It is as hot and difficult for the soldiers.”Vehicle passageWe watched it from a distance and it seemed reasonable.12:35 – Shaked gate.We were a little late. A child, an adult and 2 infants, as well as old Mahmoud with the donkey, waited to enter from the West Bank into the seam line zone. In the meantime Mahmoud offered us a banana, and we exchanged a few words. The soldiers arrived in their Hummer, claimed that today they are open earlier than usual. They left without opening the gate for the current group. The telephone at the DCO was busy, and at the nearby military post, we were sent from one soldier to another, until finally someone promised to take care of it. So we left.