Rihan

Rihan, Saturday, December 18, 2004, AMObservers: Sarit A., Rachel H. (reporting)It is very cold, and there's a cold wind. There is no closure.Traffic is sparse; cars are inspected and pass through at a reasonable pace.For fear of "kidnapping and plotting," we (Israelis, Jews) are not allowed into the Palestinian area. Other Israelis (Arabs), with blue (Israeli) ID cards, who were allowed to enter the West Bank and are returning from visiting relatives, go through the inspection post.Jewish settlers cross the checkpoint in their own private vehicles, escorted by security vehicles and without inspection.An old man walks slowly up the hill to the checkpoint leading a donkey. There are two sacks on the donkey's saddle, filled with brown bags. By the CP he meets 3 soldiers wrapped in coats ands woolen hats; only their eyes can be seen.They leaf through the papers: "Gate 2. He can't go through!"An Arabic-speaking soldier explains to the old man that he needs to go to Salem, apparently to obtain a permit to cross through this gate. I didn't quite understand the entire explanation.Without a word, the man turns around and continues his slow march. His silence, the thickness of his glasses and his age impressed me. An old man and his donkey, in freezing cold weather, who wasn't allowed to go from Ya'abed to Um-Rihan, on a road that seemed most natural to him.As the old man dragged his feet and slowly advanced, in the middle lane of the road came 3 settlers' cars, driving fast in front of the checkpoint, on their way to their destination. They were followed by a blue Mitsubishi, their security escort, this time without the huge flag that used to be hoisted on it in the past.