Ar-Ram, Qalandiya 23.03.05 a.m. Observers: Maya B, Rina R, Anat T (reporting)6:34 Qalandiya. On the way to the checkpoint, several people stopped us and said that today was “really okay”, no pressure and no pushing. Yes, and there is also a closure on all the territories and at the checkpoint, we were greeted by a group of detained men who were released within several minutes. It is not clear why their i.d.’s were taken at all. No one should have been stopped at Qalandiya. The closure is functioning in other places — in Ar-Ram, in the Shuafat refugee camp and of course, in the entrances to Jerusalem. Emil, the DCO representative at the place (Anton moved to Wadi Naar) told us that the army hired a cleaner who will be responside for the cleanliness of the area starting Sunday. Wow! We were really shocked. There was not much to do here. The line of cars was short, the soldiers were speeding up traffic and there were few people. And the feeling returns and gnaws at the heart — that we are not at those places that really need to be witnessed and where our presence is really needed. They are far away from us in the areas of the outposts, the settlements and in the nooks and alleys in the West Bank where there is total absence of law and order and no one to witness it.7:25 Ar-Ram. We travelled via the Atarot road, and it appeared to us that the wall got longer, but it is not clear when and by how much. Also the checkpoint at Ar-Ram was quiet. There were no detainees (it is certain that a jeep will arrive with its bounty of detainees caught in a chase, but when? Do they get here between the shifts of machsomwatch?) We saw here at least two people who were sent back because of the closure. Our main complaint about what happens at the checkpoint relates to the arbitrariness of the system, and there is nothing that we can do about it — to report or to help. 8:10 Azaria and the Shuafat refugee camp. What we were told last week — that there is going to be an organized parking area for the Palestinians (that is being built by workers from Tiberias!) appeared before our eyes as a designated area and empty of cars. It is not clear what it is, but it is clear that Palestinians are forbidden to park here. Is this preparation for bringing in more equipment to build another wall or fence that will go up in place of the wall that was not permitted. The Supreme Court and Sharon have solutions. There is massive presence of border police in the area — 2 jeeps and 4 people at the checkpoint. There were about 15 cars in line. The checkpoint was handled in a lazy fashion. Here too, there is the ordinariness of the stupid and inflexible occupation, that shields the outrages that go on here without upsetting anyone in other places.