Qalandiya 21/2/2004 Watchers: Rachel H., Amalia W. and Nina M. (reporting) Summary: There is no connection between Lieutenant colonel G. Isencote statement made during the meeting of MachsomWatch representatives with him on February 16 2004, that “all people, except men between 16 to 35 years old , are allowed to pass Qalandiya checkpoint, and checking there is just random”, and the reality at this checkpoint. Qalandiya, 7:30-10 am There is a Muslim holiday today – the Higri New Year. Children have one-day holiday. Many people try to make family visits. A huge amount, at least 50, different confiscated vehicles : trucks, tractors and private cars park at Atarot airport. Who is allowed to pass? Women between 16 and 30 years old and men between 16 and 40 years old cannot pass without permits. Other (older and younger), from Ramallah area only, can pass without permits. People from other areas (for example Nablus, Jenin, Hebron) can pass without permits only if they are older than 50 for both sexes. We have received this information from Tomer from DCO by phone. Itzik Deri connected between Tomer and us after we claimed that Lieutenant colonel Isencote gave us completely different information about who is allowed to pass at Qalandiya. Tomer said that the fact that Ramallah citizens are allowed to pass without permits at younger age than people from other areas is an expression of a significant easing of restrictions. In addition, teachers, doctors and nurses are allowed to pass with presenting relevant documents.The checkpoint is open from 6am to 10 p.m. for vehicles and pedestrians in both directions. At night, only pedestrian movement towards Ramallah is possible if there are no “hot” warnings. Soldiers. The commander in charge, tall with heavy Russian accent, is very suspicious about documents presented by Palestinians. Uriel from the Border Police unit, which was dismantled, because of bribery charges, assists him. Professional exams are carried by soldiers when they are suspicious of documents pointing to person’s profession. Soldiers feel very superior, intelligent and highly educated in comparison with Palestinians. Physiotherapist is questioned about Latin name of a bone and pediatrician is asked how you treat suffocating child. All orders are implemented: 16 year old girl cannot visit her sister in Ar-Ram. 27 years old woman with 5 years old boy cannot visit her parents living in Ar-Ram also. A little boy cries when separated from his mother and persuaded by his grandfather to go to his home without his mom, who is too young to pass without a permit. Man-hunting and detainees. Young men (those under 40 years old) try their luck to bypass the checkpoint through Tora-Bora. Each around half an hour soldiers go out for hunting. We hear shooting of bullets (rubber bullets) as we are informed by soldiers at the checkpoint. Caught men wait for GSS checking. They are not allowed to smoke and to use mobile phones It is terribly cold, after 2 hr they are released. The commander in charge feels that trespassers should be punished by 3 hr waiting, but Uriel tries to present his more human side so he softens this punishment.