Qalandiya & Ar-Ram Monday afternoon, 20.09.2004 Observers: Noa E., Chava B., Sara A. (reporting)On the way to Ar-Ram, we met Jerusalem municipal workers who were wearing orange vests, and who were cleaning the sidewalks by using their hands to collect garbage and put it in plastic bags. It is difficult to adjust to the sight of the [Separation Fence] wall that is being completed.About a half kilometer before the Qalandiya checkpoint, the driver turned right into Ar-Ram — it appears that since morning, this is the only way to get to Qalandiya because the army has blocked the road — “temporarily,” drivers tell us. To the south, the remains of the marketplace have been finally cleared away. What remains is a desolate wasteland. At the checkpoint, there was enormous congestion. There were Military Police, an IDF reservist volunteer [added as support staff manning the checkpoint], and an officer from the DCO [IDF Civil Administration office, in charge of passage permits]. The CP commander was stubborn and refused to make any concessions for anyone. The “humanitarian” lane [for health cases and others requiring expedited passage] was closed when we arrived. We requested that it be opened, and the commander reluctantly opened it, but then closed it again twenty minutes later. Within minutes, there were great crowds. We asked that he reopen it, but he refused. When we contacted the IDF’s “humanitarian hotline,” he opened it for 10 minutes. We get the impression that that lane is there for the sake of appearances. Most of the time, it is closed, despite the enormous crowding and the large numbers of women and men with strollers and children. The shocking scenario of a week ago reappeared before our eyes. A stroller was caught in the turnstile, packages were passed from hand to hand, and there was the crying of babies. There was a feeling of suffocation — yet in the midst of all the examination of packages is carried out in a thorough manner. A woman soldier asked for a screwdriver to disassemble a computer, gift-wrapped packages were opened, etc. I am amazed at the optimism, which allows the Palestinians to continue to wrap their gifts with Scotch tape and colorful ribbons. A young woman with two babies and a stroller asked to pass via the closed “humanitarian” lane. The soldier requested her to fold up the stroller. She had difficulty doing so because of the two babies in her arms. Chava pulled out her camera; the soldier went through the turnstile, took the stroller from the woman, and had her cross through to the other side. Another woman, with a blue [Israeli] ID, a resident of East Jerusalem, arrived at the checkpoint with her husband who has an orange [Territories] ID and is listed as a resident of Jenin. The reservist volunteer wouldn’t allow him to cross. The woman burst over to the DCO officer who checked their papers and finally allowed them to pass. Half an hour later, the same thing happened. A young couple — she is an Israeli citizen and he a West Bank resident, and the volunteer would not allow the husband to cross but the DCO officer agreed to let them pass. In general, this volunteer is a real piece of work — arrogant and crass. “Why do they have so many children? Everyone here is a doctor of a lawyer — they’re all a bunch of fakes,” etc. He asked one of the women how long she was waiting in line, and she answered, half an hour. So, he says, that’s how long I wait for a bus. A boy with a blue [Israeli] ID came to the checkpoint and was asked by the commander why he went to Ramallah, and what he did there, and then warned. “Next time that you go there, you will be arrested by the Israeli police”. A merchant from Abu Ghosh [in West Jerusalem] with a car full of goods asked for permission to go into Ramallah and was refused. Also, on the north side of the checkpoint, the colorful marketplace has disappeared without a trace. Another day of occupation and “routine” wickedness. At the Ar-Ram checkpoint, there were a number of detainees who were moved away when we tried to speak to them. (They were warned by the Border Police not to speak with us). These men lacked residence permits and were having their ID’s checked by the security service and would be released after they sign a form saying they will be arrested if they are caught again. Along all the way that goes to the Neve Yaakov intersection, the bags of trash that were collected by the workers were lining the street. They await redemption – but will it come?