Ar-Ram, Qalandiya, 23.3.2006, Thursday morningObservers: Neta E., Tamar A. (reporting)Guests: Kathy and David from Canada.Ar-Ram07:00 to 07:10There are 12 pedestrians and some students. 25-30 cars.Qalandiya7:15At the place which was, until a short while ago, the passage to the checkpoint we now find the infrastructure for the completion of the Wall. On the left side of the pedestrian lane a large roundabout has almost been completed and behind it are positions for vehicles to cross from Ramallah to Jerusalem. Cars and pedestrians, trucks with building materials all pass through the only opening which is left in the wall (there is no pavement). Private security guards try to bring order and sometimes point their rifles. The road leading north is open again to cars but there is little movement there.Pedestrians stream through in both directions. Sometimes the line of those going to Ramallah lengthens. Those going to Jerusalem have queues of 15 men which grow longer in about 30 minutes. There is another short line for men. Women pass without standing in line. Not everyone realizes that there is a second turnstile for the men and where the passage for women is and there are those who go from one to the other to check. Soldiers explain over the loudspeaker in Arabic where they should go. At 7.45 another line is opened for the men.The DCO representative says that they check on what is happening and that it is good that we are in communication with them. He also says that on the 1st April the passage for cars will be opened and there will no longer be a checkpoint to connect Ramallah with Ar-Ram, Jaba and the northern West Bank. There are already signposts on this road. One sign points to Ramallah, one to Beit El and one to Ar-Ram. But in the meantime 14 cars wait at the checkpoint. The section of the road through which cars will cross to Jerusalem is completely blocked by barbed wire. There are three checking lanes, 2 to Jerusalem and one to Tel Aviv.The market near the pedestrian passage is offering more and more. Cosmetics for women, sunglasses, kitchenware, ornaments, clothes.Back to the checkpoints: there are 20 men in one line, none in another and 5 women in line. When we get there the red light is on and nothing is moving. Then we hear the voice of a soldier telling Neta to stop photographing. She does so and the green light goes on. A woman arrives with a baby and a bundle of artificial greenery and it is impossible to get through with both. A woman takes the baby through and then we have to wait another few minutes in front of the red light. David, who was in the men’s line, crossed quicker than us.Ar-Ram8:50Between the checkpoint and the Wall there are road works. Three private security guards protect the bulldozers. On the other side more work is going on and it seems as if the Wall at Ar-ram will soon be closed.A woman with two small children tells us of her day-to-day problems. She lives in Bir Naballah and works at the Turkish consulate in Sheik Jarach. On her way there she goes through Beit Hanina. The normal road should only take 10 minutes but because of the checkpoints it takes her an hour. Everywhere one has to show one’s ID and though she has a permit soldiers do not always honour it. She also has to take the children to nursery before work and sometimes, instead of starting at 9.00, she only starts at 11.00.At the checkpoint there are still 25-30 cars and one driver at the head of the line says he has been waiting 10 minutes.7 pedestrians and one detainee but the soldiers will not tell us how long he has been there.On the way to the junction of Givah Hatsarfatit there are two flying checkpoints. Next to one a minibus has been detained and one of the passengers has been taken off and is waiting.