Afternoon

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Place: 
Observers: 
H.Sh.,N.G.,Keren
Dec-24-2003
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Afternoon

Qalandia and A-Ram Checkpoints, WED 14:30 PM, 24 Dec 2003.MachsomWatchers: H.Sh. and N.G. A- Ram Checkpoint:Quiet, with a steady stream of cars.Qalandiya Checkpoint:As soon as we arrived, four young men standing at the bastot [vendors' stalls] approached us. They told us that the one had just finished a prisonsentence and had had a basta at the entrance at Qalandiya -- and a soldierhad told them to move along and had hit the owner of the one basta andtorn his coat.We gave him the "Moked" card [contact info for the Center for the Defense of the Individual], but it is obvious that he does not want to complain as he would have to testify with his friends and that could only cause him more problems.We did tell the commander of the area about what had happened and he said he would investigate -- but there had already been a shift change of the personnel on duty.As we went along to the Ramallah entrance an older man stopped us and said we must do something to help the people who wish to visit family and friends in A-ram. For most of the time there was a steady stream of people who passedwith no problems. A woman (soldier? volunteer?) named Keren was very pleasantand polite to all as they went past her, some she allowed to go directlythrough, others she directed to the two older volunteers who for themost part made no problems. We expecially asked her her name as she wasan example of what we would like to see so long as the checkpoints are in operation. Contrary to her behaviour was that of the abominable soldier named Shimon who as usual was mocking and half violent in some instances. If only somethingcould be done about this young man whose actions are ignored by hisfellow soldiers. Two people spoke with us, one of them with an American passport. The woman lived for many years in America until her husband divorced her and now [she] works in Ramallah and lives in A-Ram. She said that they come each day without a pass and that some days the soldiers are very pleasant and allow them through and other days they give up waiting and go through one of the many "Tora Boras" [unofficial side passages]This woman was quite amazing -- She has not lost her sense of humour and says thatshe has hope ..not for our generation but for the generations of thesoldiers and young Palestinians to come. One soldier whom we asked what the name of the commander was, answered us "You don't really think I would tell you?" But the commander himself - Avner - gave his name with no problem. Suddenly some police appeared and took a group of young men who were returning to Ramallah for an inspection. They were told politely to wait.Shimon came up and started shouting at them to move further down to theplastic barricades. But their IDs were returned shortly. It was a fairly quiet watch with some cases not being allowedthrough and some allowed. The soldiers asked us if were not cold -- Yes, wewere. It was freezing.