Rihan, Shaked

Rihan, Shaked, Thursday, February 17, 2005, AMObservers: Sandra R., Lea R. (reporting)9:45 - 13:009:45 – Rihan -Very little traffic. The blue (civilian) police checks out vehicles crossing to the Palestinian side. Many drivers receive traffic violations for not renewing their licenses in time.12:00 - Shaked gate - A few teenaged girls were waiting behind the locked gate. We waited for it to open. Between the two gates sat a Palestinian, and I sat next to him.Sandra tried speaking English with the schoolgirls. Suddenly, a military Jeep arrived. In it were three soldiers, one of whom appeared extremely angry. That soldier said that they had almost shot at us, because we stood next to the gate, which is forbidden. He also said that he had called the police, and that we were to wait in our car. We didn't want to argue with him and thus make matters worse. We did ask, though, what about the gate. He answered that MachsomWatch women disturb him, and that is why the gate won't be opened today. I called Fuad at the District Coordination Office (DCO). He refused to talk to me because he was in a meeting, adding that he refuses to talk to any of us.Finally we did establish communication with him, and we were promised that he would see to it that the gate would be opened.We waited for the gate to open, and left the site.