Qalandiya, Ar-Ram, Thursday AM, 26.10.06 Observers: Mili M., Ori K. and Ilana D. (reporting)From 6:00 till 8:30 AMThere were only a few detainees in Ar-Ram. About a hundred meters North of the CP we noticed a hole in the metal fence between two parts of the separation wall through which a stream of Palestinians crept unchecked on their way into Jerusalem. There was no long queue when we arrived at the terminal in Qalandiya, and as soon as more people arrived more turnstiles were opened to let people through. Id Al Fitr is not entirely over, schools are still off and many people do not yet work.Suddenly the waiting area filled with lots of people, mainly women, many with small children who seemed in no hurry to pass through. It turned out they had arrived with the first bus of people on their way to visit relatives in the prison in Ramleh. A blue policeman nervously chased us away from the entrance to the DCL at the far left. That is were all (54 people + a lot of babies) were herded to under the supervision of a Red Cross man, stationed in Ramalla. They had to ‘be processed’ before the second bus was due to arrive and both buses were to leave before 9:00 when the DCL opens. An officer told us that ‘only’ about 50% of those visiting relatives in jail are actually refused entry into Israel on security grounds (menu’ei shaba’k), which amazed him. That is why all are scrupulously scrutinized and the buses are leaving Qalandiya escorted by Police vehicles. All of the passengers hail from the Ramalla district and some had had to get up at 2:00 AM in order to catch the bus in time. They are allowed forty minutes with their imprisoned family member and waste an entire day to visit and many months to receive the permission.There were only two cases for the humanitarian desk at the DCL. One woman who wanted to visit her son who was unconscious in the intensive care unit at the Shaare Zedek Hospital after having been stabbed in Abu Dis by a ‘friend’ in a fight. The officer knew about the case, the letter of recommendation from the hospital was not very convincing and apparently no one was eager to accommodate the family of criminals.There was also a family of well-educated Palestinians, some of whom were born in the U.S. The daughter is a pharmacology student. A settler had run into their car yesterday near a roadblock and they had been told to apply to the Police Station in Ras-Al-Amud at 9:00. They were not allowed to pass and were told to wait for the DCL to open (at 9:00). Their American passports have lapsed and they are unable to enter Jerusalem to have them renewed. They were hoping that the entire family (as witnesses) would be allowed to proceed to the Police Station so that they could then use the opportunity of being in the city to approach the American Consulate.