Qalandiya, Ar-Ram, Wednesday, 1.8.2007, PMObservers: Ruthie, Hanna (reporting) guests B. and P., Natanya translating15.40 – The old Ar-Ram checkpoint. A rolling checkpoint and border police and police checking the cars entering the neighbourhood. A border police jeep is parked diagonally on the road and stops those leaving in a northerly direction to Jerusalem. The iron gate at the wall is open in the northerly direction. Filth at the sides of the road. 15.50 – Qalandiya We park at the crowded carpark. The 4th turnstile is open and there is a sign that no. 1 is also open but this is not so. The Palestinians are a bit confused but come to the 4th turnstile. A line develops. Two young children on their own pass through about 5 big cartons and packets with heavy cooldrink bottles. It is difficult but they have already worked out a techniques. Another small boy with even more packets. The soldier puts out a hand. Checks, bangs the door and lets the boy through. The soldier acts aggressively and the microphone is screaming and sends everyone out of the turnstile. At 16.20 the line at turnstile 4 is long and people wait about 10 minutes in the heat. 16.30 – Turnstile 3 opens.16.45 – Back at the carpark on the Israeli side is an ambulance, a Hummer and more soldiers who block and open. We are not sure what is going on. The children who sell chewing gum are aggressive, open the doors of the cars and bang on the windows. We pass fairly quickly in the direction of Jerusalem. And immediately meet with the new checkpoint at Ar-Ram on the Jerusalem road.17.40 – At the entrance to Ar‑Ram a long line of cars to the north.