Ar-Ram, Qalandiya, Bir Naballah, Wednesday morning. 2.5.2007Observers: Navah A. Tamar A. (reporting), Natanya translating6.55 – 7.20 Checkpoint Ar-Ram Many pedestrians in the directions of Jerusalem, mainly pupils all of whom are asked to open their bags. An old man with a young woman accompanying him has a paper in his hand. Maybe saying that he needs medical attention and a woman with a baby are not allowed to pass. While we were there the line of cars increased to more than 10. The anger and the frustration at the wait expressed in loud hooting. Little movement in the direction of Ar-Ram. In the middle of the road, where before there had been blocks dividing the two routes, is a sign which we see along the “separation fence.” “Danger. Military Area. Anyone passing or endangering the fence does so at his own risk.” 7.40 – 8.29 Qalandiya checkpoint In front of post 2 and 3 are 5-15 people all the time. Most of the time post 2 is meant for those who have blue ids and 3 for the rest. Upon our arrival at the entrance to the District Commissioner’s Office we already find 30 men waiting even though it is supposed to open at 8.30….if by luck it does so. The shed is filled with women and children on the way to visit their family members in Israeli jails. At 7.55 the soldiers and police begin to prepare themselves for passing them through and therefore they chase away those waiting at the DCO. At first they allow them to stand on the side but the presence of a group of men who have nowhere to go and the fact that there is nothing between them and those guarding the prisoners’ visitors bothers the policeman. He tells them to go back behind the outer turnstiles. A representative of the Red Cross in the meantime sorts out the women and children and the first group goes through at 8.00 and stands at posts 4 and 5 and when we leave at 8.20 most of them have left. 8.40 Checkpoint Bir Naballah Dozens of cars in both directions. Soldiers stand on the road checking ids and demand that the baggage compartment be opened. Takes 10 minutes to pass. 9.05 The exit of the enclave of Bir Naballah to the road Jerusalem-Givat Ze-ev is blocked with plastic blocks. We go automatically into the opposite lane but a soldier orders us back. He says he will open for us but we must stand at the correct place. When he realises that we are Jewish he allows us to go directly into the main road. Behind the blocks wait two Palestinian drivers and they pass as soon as we go through. The road which leads to the left of the settlement of Har Shmuel is supposed according to the sign to lead to the village of Bido. But this road is blocked. A little more to the north next to the turning to Givon a road is being laid down which will join Bir Naballah with Bido and other villages in the area. This road will pass under the Jerusalem-Givat Ze’ev road and is deeply embedded in the ground. It is not clear if this tunnel will also be covered on top. 9.20 The traffic streams on the Jerusalem-Givat Ze’ev road. The soldier who whose duty it was to open the road to those coming from Beit Hanina El Balad now sits next to the checkpoint.