Anata, Ar-Ram, Qalandiya, 7.10.2005, Friday morningWatchers: Solly P. Clair P. (reporting)9.30 Anata Five border police and 3 soldiers at the checkpoint. At the top, where people try to avoid the checkpoint 4 more soldiers.Five cars waiting to be checked and a long line of pedestrians. Most of them seem to be going to the first day of prayer for Ramadan at the Temple Mount. The soldiers keep demanding that we stand far from the checkpoint. On the other hand instead of just letting one person pass, they allow groups to do so and so the pace is increased. 9.45 A policeman takes a young man to the enclosure, holding him and pushing him forcefully inside. We can see him sit inside and hear the shouting (evidently of the police). When they see us watching they close the door. We try to find out what is happening but a woman soldier, pushing us back, says “When you work for the police you will know.”Many pedestrians, women and children pass without being checked and men over the age of 45. Some ask us a question, make a remark, utter a complaint. “Is this your democracy? They behave like this to us at our most sacred time?” “Do something. I always see you standing and doing nothing,” says one in anger. A man dressed in white turns to us and asks help in passing a man who is “damaged psychologically” and thinks that if he can pray in Ramadan on the Temple Mount he will be cured. But he is only 42 and our attempts do not succeed. The commander tells us that at such a time of national security orders have to be carried out to the letter and there is no possibility of his using his own discretion and this at the order of the Minister of Security. Only women, men over 45 and humanitarian cases. 10.15 The door opens and the young man is still sitting inside and there is still nothing we can do. Ar-Ram Many police cars. 30 men standing while their ids are being checked. They had tried to get to the Temple Mount and were refused. Many of them seem to be under 45 and they will probably receive a report. The commander says that if he finds anyone under the age of 45, he will not be allowed to pass. About 40 people waiting from the direction of Qalandiya. The pace is slow but steady. 10.50 Qalandiya Much traffic in the whole area. The road to Qalandiya is packed, trucks, buses passing on the pavement. People running in all directions, tensely, trying to find place on a bus or transit. Everyone passes at the checkpoint, everyone in holiday dress, the children well combed, a surrealistic picture when one considers the checkpoint. Cars are checked, each one about 15 minutes. But in all this the woman soldier finds time to chat with a male soldier and with a flick of her finger shows the next car in line that it can approach. When we come back the soldier checking the ids scolds us and tells us we are not allowed to go to the other side. She checks with the other checkpoint that we have actually been there and says that next time she will call the police. (She says: “You are Jews in spite of everything” and ‘Even if you have the badges of Machsomwatch you are still not allowed to pass there”. It this true?)The exit from Qalandiya is still packed and at Ar-Ram we stand half an hour in the car line. We leave at 12.30.