Anata, Ar-Ram, Qalandiya, Tuesday, 21.3.06, PMSnait G., Ofra B., Sophia K. (guest), Roni H. (reporting)A day of hot security alerts Anata15:00 We were greeted by a young man who tells us that there was a violent soldier in the morning, who hit a man and prevented the passage of a woman with a baby. We tried to get information about the soldier, but in vain. Traffic was very sparse. Ar-Ram15:30 no detainees, traffic is light. When we return through the checkpoint at about 17:45 there is an enormous traffic jam in direction to Ramallah, because border police men perform random checks on cars going north .Qalandiya16:00 we see from afar a huge traffic jam on the road from Atarot to Road 443, which is probably caused by the security alertsThe south – north road with the checking booths for cars is almost completed. We ask ourself who will be allowed to drive on this road between Ramallah and Jerusalem? The moment the wall will be completed, the restrictions for Westbankers to enter Jerusalem will come ino effect and this checkpoint will be considered entry into Jerusalem, although it is distinctly an inner checkpoint dividing Ar-Ram from Qalandiya! The night before, the army raided Qalandiya camp. In the course of the raid a coffeeshop, frequented by young people, was attacked and the young people answered with stone throwing. Live amunition was used by the army and two men were wounded. Enormous amount of tear gas was shot and two prisoners were taken. In the pedestrians’ passage we see a big crowd of about 150 Palestinians accumulated at the fist row of turnstiles. We observe for some minutes and all of a sudden the “humnitarian” gate is opened, people surge through the gate and within 2 minutes the waiting area was empty! The same happened when we returned to the south. Long lines, waiting seems endless. Suddenly the “humanitarian'” gate is opened and we can all pass in no time. Also the checking at the checking lanes is cursory. This procedure is difficult to understand, unless we remember the slogan we saw on the black board in the office of the brigade commander on our first visit there: ” Keep the population in a constant state of uncertainty!”At the car lanes traffic was slow and heavy. At the beginning only two soldiers were checking cars in both directions and people complained that they waited for an hour and a half. When two additional soldiers appeared the situation slightly improved. Once again an acquaintance called our attention to the fact, that the distance from the taxis to the checking area, both in the south and in the north, was extremely long, particularly for handicapped persons and for people who have to carry children! There is no way to let a car with a disabled person drive up to the entry of the checkpoint and thus alleviate his ordeal! We will have to complain again.