Abu Dis, ContainerThrus. Jan. 27.05 PMObservers: Eva P., Ora A., Nurit S. (reporting) Ruth M. (reporter)Shift took place between 3:00 and 6:30 PMAbu Dis: We drove up to the Cliff Hotel and noticed that the passage across behind the hotel is all fenced off. The area was desolate.Pishpash: We saw many people passing through the monastary, no army or BP presence visible.Wadi Nar (container): Traffic moving , both pedestrian and vehicluar. There was a man who tried to pass with his small truck which was full of sheep and he didn’t have a permit. He tried to send his old mother to plead with the soldiers and when after an hour that didn’t work came himself. To no avail. We tried making some calls on his behalf…it would be hard to keep the animals in the truck over night…go to the DCO..to try to get a permit (not likely he would get one) but we were unable to help him. The soldiers were firm and none of the people we called were helpful.I haven’t been at this CP for a while and so can see the contrast between what was and is today. In the past there was a big mess with all sorts of open ends…we could plead with the soldiers and the officers listened to us more. It seems that they’ve worked all the kinks out of their system and now are more efficiently enforcing these horrible regulations. It’s totally clear that the main purpose of these regulations is to suppress any sort of vitality the Palestinians dare to have. In a way, this cold and efficient system is much worse than the mess we used to observe…people climbing over the walls with children and bundles, etc. Now there are no people unless they have been given permission to be there. One can imagine all those who are sitting around out of our sight, unable to work, study, etc. It’s discouraging. It seems that we can do much less now than before with the phone calls, etc. And although people still wave in a friendly way when we stand by the checkpiont, it seems that we are not doing anything there.