Ar Ram, Qalandiya, Monday 04.12.06 a.m.Observers: Mor B, Ruti R (reporting) Noah (guest)7:10 – 8:00 Ar RamMany students on their way to school passed through freely with the soldiers occasionally checking a bag. There was a number of detainees — men who jumped over the fence, who were standing and waiting for clarification. In the lane that leads to Jerusalem, there were a lot of people and the inspection was tough but according to the book. People were sent to Qalandiya — even those with blue i.d.’s. Anyone who was not from Dahya el Barid and did not have a number was not allowed to pass. Checking of the cars from both directions led to bottlenecks. We asked the commander of the checkpoint why there were so many people with blue i.d.’s and without a number who tried to pass through and he said that they try, but with him, they don’t succeed. He goes according to the book and he thinks that they prefer that as well. We suggested that there might be an alternative explanation since Qalanidya is full all the time. The detainees were being taken care of, according to the commander. 8:20 – 10:30 QalandiyaThe way to Qalandiya was an appropriate introduction to the embarrassment which any sane Israeli feels when he is on his way to that place: pitholes, pock marks, stones, and obstuctions all the way along the dirt road. On the wall there is the grafitti of a small door. At the entry in front of the three turnstiles, there were a lot of people waiting with the line going all the way to the entry to the hall. Three lanes (including that to the DCL were open), and after some time, a fourth lane was opened. One of the people who works in Atarot said that yesterday also, there was a total mess from the morning. A man who was about to cross through the turnstile said that he had already been waiting two hours. High school pupils were waiting in the hall until the pressure let up. They would be late for school, and an argument broke out among the students. The waiting hall was filthy and the toilets were locked. At 8:30, a group of disabled children who pass through every day arrived. They pressed repeatedly on the button to open the gate so that they could cross but got no response. From inside, we could hear the shouts over the loudspeaker of one of the soldiers ‘shut your mouth”. The teacher accompanying the children tried to get the attention of a soldier in the security hut at the entrance, but his back was turned toward her. At last, the gate opened and they passed through. Simultaneously, the turnstiles were open for a longer time so that 70 people entered at one time. (there was still a long line outside). The meanwhile, the loudspeaker announced that the DCL was closed. A man went out who needed a permit immediately and I contacted D. He explained that the DCL was not closed. A woman with her daughter (who have American passports) wanted to get a permit to extend the passport of the little girl. There was no way that we could help her because Israel does not give visas to Palestinians to get to the American Consulate in East Jerusalem. Chana Barag did everything in her power to try to help a crippled man in a similar situation but without success. Within the terminal to the DCL, one of the people was instructed to enter a side door for inspection and because he refused, the soldiers threated that no one would be allowed to enter and even turned toward the many people waiting in line to try to encourage him to go in. They said that they do not rule over him. The man asked to speak with Gabi, and they threatened him that they will force him in. One of the soldiers shouted at him that he will never, ever get a permit. They asked for his i.d. and a soldier repeated again and again that she would personally tell Gabi that he would not be allowed to get a permit. We contacted Ophir and he said that he would check it out. After a few minutes, the soldiers had the man enter and the rest of the people were allowed to pass. The meanwhile, another long line developed near the entry.The soldier at lane one was shouting all the time, threatening, and unwilling to listen to anything. A father with a son with a permit to enable him to visit an eye doctor was almost denied entry by her. Ruti waited near the window and the soldier got very nerous and shouted at her to get away because she was bothering her with her work. Ruti said that she also had work to do here and he remained. Afterwards, she returned to the turnstiles and the man there said that there is not a country in the world that would not allow a father, with a permit, to cross with his son who has to see an eye doctor. The soldier continued to yell and Ruti continued to look from the other side of the turnstile. At last, the soldier allowed him to cross. Ruti wanted to get the name of the soldier and she rudely refused and she and her friend threatened to arrest her. The room behind the glass wall was full of officers and policeman and all of them were watching the scenario taking place. Ruti said that she wanted to register a complaint against the soldier. A soldier (who does not serve at the checkpoint and just happened to be there) explained to us where and how to complain. When we finally managed to speak with the commander, who was in the inspection room throughout the whole event, he said to us that “it is a known story”. He did not respond despite the calm, pleasant manner in which Mor presented the issue to him.10:30 There were still a lot of people behind the turnstile. Only two lanes were open. We once again asked to open an additional lane.