Sheikh Saed, Abu-Dis Friday, 13.10.2006, AM Claire O and Barbara S, observing and reportingSheikh Saed – When we arrive at the CP, we see a BP with his gun resting on one of the huge rocks separating the two sides of the CP, apparently pointing at the people (between 40 and 50) who are hoping to get into Jerusalem for Friday Ramadan prayer. When asked about the necessity of this, the person responsible for the CP claims that this is necessary for the safety of his men and that the soldier is not really aiming at the people. Even though there is talk about easing regulations in honor of Ramadan, there has been a full closure since the beginning of Sukkoth, and at this point it seems to be imposed with utter stringency: Only residents of Sheikh Saed pass, provided they have at least the “minimum age” (men 45, women 40) and a permit – younger people, even if they have permits, are sent back. Many people are sitting, in two lines, in front of the grocery store, dignified and calm in spite of the upsetting situation. Supposedly, from 10:30 onwards, there will be a little more flexibility on the side of the BP.One of the men waiting at the CP tells us that it frequently occurs that BP use the megaphones of their jeeps to curse loudly in the middle of the night. Another suggests to have Al-Aqsa moved to Sheikh Saed to avoid the hassle for those wishing to pray there…As we leave the checkpoint, things seem to begin to move a little: several older people without permits pass, including one who is accompanied by a much younger woman, who, surprisingly, gets to go with her. A BP whose task it is to write down the ID numbers of those passing talks rudely, saying to an old woman, “walla tambalit”. Abu-Dis, Pishpash – As we enter the pishpash, we find five detainees, three of them squatting on the ground and facing the shop on the corner. One of them tries to make eye contact with us, begins to say something, but is immediately hushed by one of the BP. Here too, one of the BP has his gun ready, resting on one of the barricades. When we try to find out how long the detainees have been here, we are told that they were caught two hours ago. C. points out that detention as a punitive measure is illegal, one of the BP claims that “three hours is not a punishment” at that their data are still being checked at the ‘masof’. An attempt to alert Elisha to this behavior which is illegal even by the official standards of the army fails – no answer. Eli Gabbai, who used to be responsible in the past, has no advice for us whom to turn to instead. We leave, unable to give the slightest help.Back at Sheikh Saed (at about 10:30): the number of people waiting appears to be about the same as before. C.’s appeal to a higher ranking BP to use his own discretion in honor of Ramadan remains fruitless – during a closure, there is no room for personal discretion, he says. Unfortunately we get into a discussion with him, during which he lectures us that there are clear laws and regulations, informing us that everything he does sits very well with his ethics and his conscience. Once more, the gulf between our views and the difference in perception leaves us with devastating hopelessness