Checkpoint of Al Bidan, Thursday 13.8.2007,PM Rosh Hashanah and first day of Ramadan,Naomi L. report by phoneNatanya translating.14.00 -M. phoned from Al Bidan and reports that the checkpoint is closed. He arrived there at 12.30 and since then there has been a complete closure. 1000s of people waited on their way home and today is the first day of Ramadan. All were waiting to go to work and for arrangements and not a word was said to them. The soldiers were sending people to other checkpoints and when they said that they had no permits to pass their words fell on deaf ears. The army centre affirms that because of an alert the checkpoint is closed and will be so until further notice. In the meantime M. says that the soldiers have shock grenades in their hands and are threatening to use them. The crowd is angry and hungry and wants to get home. An appeal to the Red Cross found them hopeless to help.All the calls to the army and politicans did not help. Today Israel is celebrating its holiday. The spokesman of the Regional Commander says at last that he will check. We were told that a high rank officer arrived at the checkpoint about half an hour later and forbade the soldiers to use the grenades. It would damage the image of alleviations and the free passage. But the checkpoint did not open. Through Navah A. we succeeded in getting to the deputy minister of Defense Matan Vilnai who promised to check.16.45 -We again phone the army centre and now (And only now!!) we are informed that the possibilities of opening the checkpoint are being examined so as to pass the people with full check, because they know that the hour of the end of the fast is approaching and they will reinforce the checkpoint. What a wonderful show of sensitivity. 10 minutes later M. affirms that the checkpoint has been opened but it will take hours to let the 1000s through. It is true that there are many soldiers and captains but there is another checkpoint and yet another on their way, and at both a very careful examination of all passing through.17.45 – 15 minutes before the end of the fast the checkpoint is open but there are still crowds awaiting to pass through and this will take time.18.25 -The soldiers have left the checkpoint and people are now passing through freely…..and as for the “alert” no one suspicious has tried to go through or been caught by the army.We exchanged holiday greetings.Thanks to Naom C. Orna P. Nava A. Noah P. for all the help.