Qalandiya, Ar-Ram, 6.10.2006, Friday morningObservers: Yehudit E., Hannah B. (reporting), Natanya translatingQalandiyaWe received a phone call about the breakthrough of 1000s of people at the checkpoint and that there had been shots fires there and tear gas canisters thrown. We complained to the humanitarian center and to the commanders of the area who confirmed the report and we decided to go there in person. The car park at Qalandiya was completely full. Buses and cars from all the areas of the occupied territories were there. The drivers with whom we spoke told us heatedly about the happenings of the morning and complained about the gas thrown at the crowds. They did not speak of shots but said that they had left Tulkarm, Nablus and Jenin at 4 am so as to get through all the checkpoints to arrive in time for the prayers. We neared the checkpoints and saw that the area was filled to bursting point and that hundreds of people were streaming to the bus on the southern Jerusalem side. It was a terrible crush but the passage was done quickly and with no special checking. The radio announced that men over 40 and women could pass with no problems. But it seems that after the happening of the morning the right of passage was raised to 45 for men and many were bitterly disappointed. People stood at the fences and looked with yearning eyes at those who would pass and participate in the prayer on the Temple Mount. A loudspeaker used by a female soldier in the direction of the cars was heard as usual with strident shouts. When she was replaced by a male soldier the loudspeaker “calmed down” and the vulgar shouting stopped. We were glad with those who had passed and shared the sadness of those who had not but there was noting much we could do.Ar-Ram We went along the eastern side of the wall in the direction of Ar-Ram until we came to a gap in the wall at Dachia El Barid. A group of young people from Nablus tried to check with us if there was a checkpoint on the other side and went there joyfully and we did not see them again. (Hope that that was a good sign). We went back to the car and went through the checkpoint of Hizma to Ar-Ram. There were many soldiers there, also border police and new recruits of both sexes. The hour was close to that of the hour of prayer and it seems that most of the traffic was in that direction. But the “hunting” in the area continued with the aid of small tractors which drove madly through the neighborhood and back. A little to the north was a group of border police on the road who did not allow Palestinians without permits to go through. “The passage in only to Qalandiya.”“But I live in Ar-Ram.” “Doesn’t interest me…here you cannot pass.” A little push and the “refuseniks” were shoved off. Elderly women and an old man who could hardly see and leaned on a cane accompanied by his grandson were not allowed to pass. We spoke to the soldier and he answered us with arrogant rudeness. We were just on our way to call the captain when we met Yoram Halevi, the commander of the Jerusalem envelope. He greeted us pleasantly listened and asked us to allow him to deal with the problems. And truly the women passed through, so did the old man and only the youngest were not allowed through. The checkpoint cleared. The happy women promised to pray for us and we were glad.