Shaked, Rihan, Tuesday 10.5.05,a.m Observers: Yocheved G. , Chasida S. (reporting)7:45-9:15 Shaked gate – 7:45 The gate was wide opened, there was no one to be seeing on site, we continued to Rihan. Rihan – 7:55 We passed by the checkpoint in our car to the southern car park, where Palestinians vehicles are parked as well as cabs, whose drivers yearns for a drop of livelihood. One person, apparently a merchant from Barta’a, with boxes of tomatoes, tries to maneuver with the instruction of transfer of “Five boxes only”. In the end the tomatoes do go through, more drivers can make a living and the level of security of Israel was preserved.Back to the checkpoint – We walked to the pedestrians gate, like everybody else, through the fenced sleeve. At the gate we saw an Israeli employer and a Palestinian worker, apparently a construction worker, who has a work permit but is denied passage through Rihan (the permit, most likely is valid for the Jalama passage). But now there is a closure, like the formula: “A Holiday for the Jews = a day of mourning for the Palestinians”, therefore , the Israeli employer will have no worker today. The Israeli couldn’t understand why can’t his worker cross from Rihan, where as his place of employment is closer to this spot. The employer needed a great deal of paper work before he received that permit for his employee. He claims that the Chinese and other foreign workers are sent back home, and authorities make it so difficult to obtain permits for Palestinians.The female soldier was adamant about refusing passage – These are the orders, and that’s it.Soldiers strongly believe that their actions prevents terror acts.There were no detainees. In fact, very few people did go through , due to the closure.