Anata 26.05.06 a.m.Observers: Claire O, Tirtz L (reporting)When we arrived at the place where the people go to circumvent the checkpoint, we saw that a fence is being built that will prevent that path. The lower part of the fence is already in place on most of the hill. They still have not placed the wiring on the fence itself. Soldiers on the hill prevent passage. At the checkpoint itself, a border policeman commanded us very rudely to get away. We moved back a few meters. We saw that the determination as to whether or not to allow old people (without permits) to cross was random. Some were allowed and others not. An old woman who was refused argued and pleaded with the soldier (the same one who made us move back), and those who do not succeed in being allowed to pass cross the street to another stand and plead with a senior officer until he finally allowed her to pass. A blue policeman who was there in his car participated in the checking of vehicles. Of every few cars that pass one is stopped and a thorough check of 5 or 6 minutes takes place. All doors are opened, registration etc are checked.Three women, two old and one with a basket on her head asked to pass. For several minutes, they tried to persuade the soldiers, but they did not allow them through. They passed to the other side and pleaded but there too they were refused. An additional group of 6 old men and women asked to cross — all appeared as if they wanted to go to prayers, but they were refused. We went to the most senior officer and asked what the policy for today was. Why are some of the old people allowed to pass and others not. He replied that it was up to the discretion of the soldiers and that we shouldn’t get involved. The meanwhile, there were no longer any soldiers on the hill above and people were crossing there. The head of the village committee of Anata, Sanduka, approached us. They are building a partial temporary fence in the place where they intend to build a permanent fence but the area is still being determined by the Supreme Court. He said that down below, in the refugee camp, there is still a checkpoint and soldiers there sift through the people so that fewer will arrive at the other checkpoint. He said that it was fortunate that the regular office of the checkpoint was not here because then there would be many more detainees and the soldiers would place them in the middle of the area which is fenced in near the hut of the checkpoint. He also said that the army does not allow the children who leave Anata for school to pass through the checkpoint by bus. They must get off the bus and pass through the checkpoint and then get on the bus again.