'Atara, Qalandiya, Tue 18.12.12, Afternoon

Translating: Ruth Fleishman

At Qalandiya the writing is on the wall

The checkpoint is preparing for an Intifada

In the past weeks the checkpoint which is meant to serve as a barrier between Palestinian territory and "Greater Jerusalem", has been turning into a fortified site protected by layers.

Parts of walls and concrete obstacle keep being brought to its external side and placed one next to the other in erect lines that create protective external walls for the protection of the inner walls that protect the checkpoint which "protects" the safety of the country from the Palestinian teenagers who are coming to destroy it.

And the thousands of people who have to walk through the checkpoint every day by vehicle or foot, have only on entrance left and it is only becoming more narrow.

Atara/Bir Zeit checkpoint:

The area surrounding the checkpoint was strewn with weaponry casings: grenades and rifle bullets, some of the usual kind and while others were "special" (?), this indicated of the violent events that occurred there recently.

The three reserve soldiers got out of the complex and came towards us called for back-up and four additional soldiers hurried to join.

The seven attacked us with speech and actions.

They were most upset when we defined the Palestinian territories as "occupied territories": "it is a liberated territory!" they said with deep self conviction. They were also very frightened of the camera, they kept bringing up "those lefties who published on their Facebook the picture of the heroic soldier who shot the terrorist in Hebron and they (those lefties) say that she must be killed". They also talked about the video clips in which soldiers are seen to be running away from stone throwers at the village Kadum: "The Arabs throw stones because they are paid to do so…", and with violent shoves they obstructed the attempts to take a photo of the torn flag waving from the top of the pillbox: "This is a military zone, you can't take a photo of military property…"

On the side of the road leading to the checkpoint, a Palestinian placed boxes of fruits and vegetables, he was strenuously trying to make a living and sell to the passersby.

And as the sun sets and darkness and cold are all around, the man lights pieces of wood for illumination and warmth. Almost every day (the peddler said) the soldiers come and order him to put the fire out.