Ar-Ram, Qalandiya, Anata, Thursday, 5/8/2004 AMObservers: Ruth E., Ramah Y. (reporting), a guestAr-Ram. Upon our arrival, a BP soldier ordered usaway, far far away. We took some distance, but,apparently, it was not enough. An argument ensued, butwe were firm. Apart from this, there were no special problems.Pedestrians’ movement flowed, and as usual in Ar-Ram,the car line was long and the checking slow andinefficient.Qalandiya. An innovation: sacs filled with sandsurround the posts of the checking staff — I wasreminded of my early childhood in besieged Jerusalem.Otherwise, everything is as usual.Anata. When we arrived at around 8:30, about fiftywomen of all ages plus children and babies, all intheir best clothes, were detained, and their IDs takenfor scrupulous checking. The group came by bus fromNablus, and was on its way to the El Aqsa mosque. Theydidn’t have permits. The soldiers were not up to thesituation, or at least this was our impression. But the story has a happy end of sorts. When I calledone of the women at 16:00, the group was on its wayback to Nablus. Apparently, they were released ataround 13:00, and allowed to go on to El Aqsa.