Abu-Dis, Container Sunday 26.12.04, PMWatchers: Aya L., Judith S.02:45 Abu-Dis – After a couple of weeks that we didn’t visit here, the road – with the red and white stripes along the pavement, with no cars and people, except a BP jeep at the junction in front of the pishpash – was a total shock. From a lively place – for better and for worse – all that’s left is a silence of death. Now the place is at last sterile and easy to protect. On our way to and from the Cliff hotel we asked several people about the changes that happened, and were surprised, more than everything, from the frightened expressions and from the short answers, as if trying to avoid getting into trouble. All taxies were moved down the road, behind a stone blockage; There is hardly any traffic left, and only people who haven’t got any other choice pass through the monastery’s yard. Our forces park in the junction, and one of the soldiers explains to us, in an extremely laconic manner, that the most important thing is to leave the area in front of the pishpash empty. And it is indeed very very empty, and the atmosphere is absolutely horrible – an atmosphere of fear and of life that came to an end. On the path leading to the hotel, which is full with holes and bumps, according to people, electricity works are done (does it have to do with the new neighborhood “Kidmat Zion”, which is supposed to be built somewhere close?).03:45 The Container – The queue of cars from Abu Dis is the longest we have ever seen, and reaches beyond our sight. 4 soldiers are “working” in the CP – the job of one of them is to sit on the stone fence separating between the lanes, may be as protection, and therefore he isn’t contributing anything to the CP’s efficiency. The other three are “doing their job” without hurrying and without showing even a hint of good will. One of them, the CP commander, treats the passengers, who arrive by foot or by car, like a real oppressor… and the endless line of cars is still waiting. Because it’s enough that one of the soldiers makes himself a cup of tea and the other is answering the phone, there is nobody to wave to the drivers to come forwards. And for not letting the traffic move there is no need for a reason… and still almost hundred cars are waiting, and waiting, and… waiting… and… no one cares.A man who bought his wife a car in Ramallah, and his whole family is driving the new car for the first time home to Hebron, is told by the commander “don’t buy your wife presents”, and isn’t allowed to pass; Two vehicles from the Palestinian ministry of health are prevented from crossing, because one of them hasn’t got a permit although it is passing daily back and forth; A red cross car is prevented from passing. One of the people who just spoke to the commander is furious, and so are we – because during the whole shift we saw in front of us an expression of cold, heartless and arrogant viciousness, of which a decent person doesn’t want to be a part, neither on the receiving end nor on the giving end.Very hard day.