Ar-Ram, Qalandiya 6/5/2004 Watchers: Rama, Y. Mili M. (reporting) Ar-Ram. As we came, we were commanded by Igor to stand 10 meters from the CP — it was “sterile zone”. We hardly argued because we could watch quite well from there. The clerks for the TV tax are at the CP again (they have not been there since the assassination of Sheich Yassin). We called Liat (BP’ Spokeswoman) to inquire whether this was legal. Her assistant was surprised to hear about this operation and promised that when her superior will come they will call us back, but did not. The situation was bad and grew worse by the moment. Each card was checked individually and each student’s bag was opened. (some of them very little children) . There were altogether 7 soldiers at the CP (including the one who watches form above), one soldier was with the TV people, and one was checking the buses. Each passenger had to step out of the bus. We called operations department for Otef Jerusalem (the Jerusalem enveloping wall) and talked with Assi who could watch what was happening on his camera. He talked with Igor, he said, and with his superiors – and that was the most he could do. He also said that the TV operation against tax dodgers was a formal agreement with the police. The soldiers could not handle the masses of people, especially of children, and from time to time they pushed forward and passed without being checked at all. The level of violence was raised and the soldiers screamed. In response the queue of the children was moved to the lane of the buses (not clear how it was supposed to help any) and the buses turned back and left. When we left the bulk of children already passed the CP, there was a line of pedestrians that from time to time were required to stand behind the white line and not buses on the lane. 1. Can we do something about Operation TV? 2. Can we inquire about the procedures in Ar-Ram, especially compared to the ones in Qalandiya? Qalandiya. The CP itself is a different world. There are about 14 soldiers, every body, including cars, moves quickly. To our question Matan the commander explains that the orders have changed, more people from the north are allowed to pass, and they are two unites. The BP do the checking and they (Military Engineering) take care of security. There was one detainee who was waiting for about 45 minutes. Matan explained that the GSS’ examination takes a long time and approached the man who preferred to get his ID immediately and go back rather than wait for the checking of the ID. Outside the CP things were bad. Many passers-by commented on the wall (which is monstrous) and a bagel seller told us that the booths peddlers are being harassed. He himself was taken to Neve Ya’acov police station and with the false charge that he hit a soldier he was released only after he paid 5,000 shekels. We gave him B’Tselem’s number and Ahmed Tibi’s number. Rama took his telephone number for follow-up.