Rihan

Rihan, Monday, January 10, 2005, AMObservers: Tammi S., Tslila P. (reporting); Guests: Ben, Yam and RonTwo hours of observing a shift with many soldiers, Border Police, Military Police, and even a representative of the civilian (blue) police.Work is done "by the book" without using common sense. Such is the case of an elderly couple from a village near Jenin who wanted to visit friends in Barta'a but lacked a passage permit. They were denied passage. The shift commander, Second Lieutenant A., said that if he got permission from the District Coordination Office (DCO), he would let them in. The DCO claimed that they had no authority to give such permission; only the army could do so.Another case of inconsideration concerned a young fellow who holds a work permit in Israel, which allows him to enter Israel only from Jalama. He wanted to visit his sister in Barta'a, but due to what was printed on his permit, he was denied passage.