Ar-Ram, Qalandiya, Anata, Tuesday, 18.7.06, PMObservers: Mor B., Roni H. (reporting)Ar-Ram15:45 – All Jerusalem ID holder can again pass and persons with special permits. According to the policeman for about a month only residents of the area, who were registered by the border police and who have received special numbers could pass southward. But 2 weeks ago this procedure was abandoned and now the old state of affairs was restored. Remember the army slogan “keep the population in a constant state of uncertainty!” The vehicle line is long – about 25–30 cars – the checking is slow and the wait seems endless. The building of the wall on the route through Dahiya is advancing and when it will be completed the present checkpoint ( Ar-Ram) will become superfluous. Qalandiya 16:30 – The vehicle line southwards is in steady flow. All passengers between 16 – 60 have to leave the car and pass through the pedestrians’ checkpoint. Many people turn to us and want to know how the awful present situation will end. They are worried. A Jerusalem tourist bus driver tells us that he has no work since two weeks and that many tourist groups have cancelled their orders. He spoke very bitterly about the Israeli tourist guides, who tell their tourist many lies about Israel, the Arabs and the current situation.The pedestrians’ checkpoint is practically empty. Nobody takes any chances and only Jerusalemites do pass. Bus No. 78 brings us back to Jerusalem without passing the Ar-Ram checkpoint. Anata 18:00 – Only vehicles coming out of Anata are checked, but a couple of minutes after we arrive two border policemen take up their position and check incoming vehicles as well. Immediately a traffic jam is created. We wonder wether this is a special show for us. A Palestinian driver stops and shouts angrily at us: “You have to come in the mornings, when they shoot at us and harass us. Look what they have done to me!” and he shows us a bald patch on his head, obviously from a wound. All this in front of the border policeman, who does not know how to react and only tells him to pass. We leave soon, understanding that our presence has had only the effect of creating long queues.