Ar-Ram, Qalandiya 11/2/2004 Watchers: Rahel M., Ruti R., Magdalena H., Shosh H. At Ar-ram, lively traffic of vehicles which passed without delay, and a lot of traffic of school children. There were no detainees. We travelled to Qalandiya in our own car. There, at Qalandiya, there was total confusion. Lots of beeping of cars and transits, with people crossing among them in the mud. There was a long line of cars in the direction to Ramallah. The checkpoint itself was moved 50 meters north, and a “succah” was built for the electronic gate that pedestrians heading toward Jerusalem had to pass through. There was no checking of people going north to Ramallah. We asked the commander about the new inspection gate and he explained that it started to operate three days ago. It checks the level of metal of those passing, and if the amount is unusual, the person is detained. At least there is no need to empty out pockets and bags. Also after one passes the gate, his ID must be examined. People passed relatively quickly. We tried to help a teacher from Jericho who was trying to reach Jerusalem by way of Surda. On our way back, he was not at the checkpoint. Perhaps he passed, or perhaps he despaired and returned. There was not a long line of cars in the direction of Jerusalem and the traffic flowed. Of course there was a backup in front of the checkpoint on the way back, and we hit a checkpoint on Shivtei Yisrael in Jerusalem. We didn’t see detainees.Everything was quiet and without problems. So why the delays. How have we grown accustomed to this terrible situation and we report about in such a dry and banal fashion.