Qalandiya, Ar-Ram... - machsomwatch
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Qalandiya, Ar-Ram…

Place: Jerusalem
Observers: sylvia p,rahel m
Sep-22-2004
| Morning

Qalandiya, Ar-Ram, Sho’afat 22.9.2004, AMObservers: Sylvia P and Rahel M6:35. Sho’afat Refugee Camp. The area around the CP is teeming with school children, adults, vehicles and garbage. We cannot see the end of the line of cars trying to enter. A woman soldier checks each car very slowly, and there is much tooting of horns. One soldier checks the people entering Jerusalem through the turnstile. The people appear to emerge from a cage since on either side for fifty meters they are fenced in a rather narrow passage. The soldier checks quickly, sometimes stopping the process to check a bit longer. Everyone seems to have a blue ID. Sylvia is taking movies, and a resident stops to lament to us how they are treated. Another soldier stands to the side to catch those who do not enter the passage to the turnstile. Four young men argue with him. They want to pass in the open. They argue, and it looks like there will be trouble, but the soldier lets them go through. A woman is told to return. She hesitates a moment, and continues when they are not looking. Somehow in the ‘balagan’ of people and cars, everyone makes his way.7:30. Ar-Ram. After a pleasant “good morning” we are asked to move back. About fifteen cars in line, which moves slowly, while each pedestrian has his name recorded as he passes. About twenty people are in line. Seems to be a typical morning.7:50. Qalandiya. We go by taxi to Qalandiya, traveling along the wall on the right. Near the end we cross over and finish up on the left. Here a mass of cars, trucks all trying to fit into one line to go north. A large group of youths with backpacks wait for a bus to take them to school at Sachnin. The intersection is teeming with morning movement. At the CP we see four turnstiles. People enter one, then after a few meters another in order to emerge. Why two? We watch, and it seems to be a routine morning. Two soldiers stand to the outside, smiling and laughing with each other. Sylvia comments to them, and they say there is nothing to be afraid of except (and he points to the sky). On our return to Ar-Ram by taxi, the driver takes us to the center instead of the CP, but pleasantly makes many turns, and we find ourselves where we boarded.

  • Jerusalem

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    • The places in East Jerusalem which are visited routinely by MachsomWatch women are Silwan and Sheikh Jarrah. During the month of Ramadan, also the Old City and its environs are monitored.

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