Qalandiya, Bir Naballah, Sunday afternoon, 23.9.2007Observers: Natanya G. Phyllis W. (reporting), Natanya translating14.40 – On the way to Jerusalem on road 443 I saw a line of kilometres at the checkpoint at the entrance to Israel east of Maccabim and Reut.15.15 – Checkpoint Ar-Ram Many soldiers but no Palestinians. New procedures at the checkpoint including nets for shade for those checking at the car lane. The gate in the wall between Dachia El Barid and Ar-Ram was closed so we went through the streets of Ar-Ram. 15.30 – Qalandiya In the two sleeves which were working, there were about 20 people in each and another man waiting to enter the DCO. After we saw that he had been allowed in, we went to the car lane to try to find the magnetic card of a man who had forgotten it there the previous morning. There was not much traffic. Two lanes entering Israel and one in the direction of Ramallah. A civil dogtrainer and her dog were present but as far as we could see she was not wearing a uniform either that of the army or civil. A blue policeman checked the cars going north to Ramallah. We asked what we should do about the magnetic card and he said that we should approach the operations room as the card should have been sent there. But we could not find it even though we asked for the help of the centre. We went back to the pedestrian lane which was fairly empty.New Ar-Ram There was a line of 20 cars and others came in from the side but the time of waiting was no more than 5 minutes as the soldiers hardly checked and when we went back there was no line at all. 17.00 – Bir Naballah 14 cars and a wait of three minutes. There too 4 soldiers just glanced into the cars and sent them on. They said that there was segregation and those from North Shomron, Nablus and Jenin could not pass. In the meantime there was more pressure about 16 cars and they opened another lane. 17.30 – Qalandiya The checkpoint was empty as it was towards the end of the fast. We saw signs at the entrance with a line showing to the left for special lines of students and teachers and another for women, children and elderly men for the Friday prayers. Amir, the representative of the DCO explained that special lines were opened when there was great pressure and both he and the soldiers at Bir Naballah stressed to us that necessity for seeing to it that there were no long lines (at Ramadan?) so as to lessen the suffering of the Palestinians as much as possible. Is there a new wind blowing in the army? We remember sadly the years when we met crowds trying to pass and to break their fast with families in Israel, people dressed in holiday garb carrying food and presents. This year they were not present and the checkpoint was empty as if something had been taken from the Palestinian culture.