We arrived at Qalandya South to find the area very lively and active. Tradesmen were selling olive tree plants, fresh almonds, clothes whatever – spring is here. Throngs of people from S.to N. no checking. Heavy traffic northbound but no waiting. We were told by an old lady who only speaks Arabic(luckily D speaks Arabic) that in the morning an old man and a women were caught, beaten and his hands were tied behind his back and both had to crouch. Also, that school children who stopped to eat something were detained for an hour. We could not confirm these stories.As soon as we reached Qalandya north at about 4 p.m., we saw six detainees behind the red and white plastic barriers, including one woman. We asked about them; the locals said they were caught across the quarry at 12.; the soldiers say it was 2 p.m. We phoned the Moked. They could not do anything because the detainees tried to cross illegally. We kept questioning the soldiers – 8 in number, two girls, two reservists, one horrible Russian and a simpatico young lieutenant – first timer. Every so often we asked what about the six detainees. They have no right to dry them up for five hours; there are no such instructions. To no avail. At 5-530, the three men were released. The woman is from Hebron, and she was being detained because she misbehaved. She smoked, talked on the phone and made fun of the soldiers when they caught her. By 6.45, when we were preparing to leave, they were released. Other incidents. A group of students, one without permit were not allowed to pass and tried to slip away. They were caught and still detained when we left. Many pedestrians commented that when we are there things go more smoothly. One said “when I see you I feel optimistic.” Another very angry tradesman who was refused passage because his permit was overdue, was very aggressive: ”this is Israeli democracy”. An old man whose documents were taken six weeks ago – he is allowed to pass- says :who wants shalom, you want shalom?”