Ar-Ram, Qalandiya, Anata, Friday , 2.9.2005, AMWatchers: Efrat B., Gali A. (reporting)Five border police and one blue policeman and the movement is steady.When we ask about a closure, we are told that only medical cases are allowed through with the correct documentation. There is no age allowed to pass without papers. But the soldiers with an unspoken agreement between them allow everyone who looks old enough to pass without even being checked. An ambulance from Qalqiliya on its way to Mukassah cannot pass although the patient inside who has the correct permits can. One of the border police who speaks Arabic deals quickly and efficiently with this. He tries to get permission for the ambulance to pass but does not succeed and explains to the patient that he can order an Israeli ambulance for him. The patient says it is too expensive and the border policeman offers to try to stop a taxi and this is done after 20 minutes. The soldier explains to us that he is also a nurse and that, had the case been critical, he would have allowed the ambulance through and has done so in the past.Qalandiya 10.15 – Both pedestrians and cars move swiftly. All cars are stopped by nine soldiers who check IDs and contents in car and baggage compartment.11.00 Ar-Ram The wait for cars on their way back is about 15 minutes. The soldier identifies us and does not ask for IDs.11.30 About seven border police, a long line of cars and the soldiers are nervous and tell us not to stand in the area of the checkpoint. A man introduces himself to us as head of the people’s committee of the neighborhood. A new company has been stationed and since the morning there have been clashes between the soldiers and the people with the soldiers wanting to show their power. Although he says that they were promised that if there was pressure two lines would be opened for cars, the soldiers have refused to do so. Another man gets out of his car and tells us that they have already been in line for two hours. We try to ask the commander what is happening and get a reply of “Stand over there. Maybe we will speak to you.” After 10 minutes of nothing happening we try to get an answer by phone but are told that because of careful checking they cannot open two lanes. Even by the time we leave nothing has been done although the commander has managed to take a break to smoke a cigarette.