Shaked and Rihan checkpoints, Saturday 1.7.06 a.m.Observers: Shula N. Rachel H. (reporting)07:25 – 09:4007:25 Shaked checkpointThe gate is open. There are 3 soldiers standing behind concrete walls for shelter and without an escorting vehicle.Summer vacation. Two youths with a heavy sack (tobacco leaves) are permitted to go towards Tura.A pupil holding a note book (matriculation examination?) – goes through.Turning to us:”Observing the humanity at the checkpoint?….. it is good that there are such people”.07:50 – We left the checkpoints desolated.08:00 Rihan checkpoint Five vans are waiting for workers at the upper car park area.Passengers complain about the late hour of opening the gates (07:30) they’ve been waiting there since 06:00 (Our Sabbath is the least of their concern and rightfully so), they also complain that the passage through the terminal is very slow. At this time they wait for more workers to come out of the inspection terminal to fill up the van and to finally get to work.At the vehicles inspection post (we are told to ‘get out’) sits a border police officer while the military police soldier reads out loud the vehicles plate numbers and he also writes down personal data of passengers from their papers. An army volunteer (heavy set individual) “guards” them.Another border police officer is seen sitting on the other side of the gate.The checkpoint commander, Sergeant, explains to us (in a stuttering manner) that he would have preferred if we got out of the sleeve and talked with people else where. Although he did not sound assertive and despite our firm request, he had sent us to the Palestinian car park area.Vans with sheep, eggs, beef, are awaiting passage. Drivers claim that they have the proper permits. Pick up trucks with vegetables are being inspected crate by crate, soldiers unload the merchandise, examine it and re-load it, the process is long and the sun is hot.At the entrance to the terminal, outside the yellow pedestrians gate there are about 20-25 people waiting at all times, they are taken in “five at a time” while ten more gather in the line. The gate is open once every 10 minutes. if more than 5 people go in, the soldier at the post calls for people to retreat and to listen to some unpleasant remarks. The checkpoint commander tries to explain to the waiting crowd (people older than him and most likely even older than his own parent) “Its for your own good…” and the carousel is lucked yet again in this heavy heat.In one instance there was this only one woman staying outside the yellow gate and all men were squeezing behind her.We help a student who studies in Jenin and wanted to get back to Barta’a. His permit had expired and he was not allowed in. The clerk at the DCO (who refused to give us her name) looked into that matter and granted permission for the student to cross over.09:40 – We leftTranslation- Y.Bassis-Student