including Anata and AtarotAM

Share:
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Email
Place: 
Observers: 
Ora A.,Malka A.,Ilana D.
Aug-29-2004
|
Morning

Anata, A-Ram, Qalandia, AtarotSunday, 29 August, 2004 AM.Observers: Ora A., Malka A. and Ilana D. (reporting)6:30 AM In Anata we observed a new caravan on the South side of the road and a shelter for the soldier who is checking. The cars passed unhindered on one side and the pedestrians on the other side. When we approached, the BP-man didn’t answer our greetings, but instead started checking all the documents scrupulously, so we decided to leave. Then a blue police van approached and with lots of noise dispersed ‘illegally’ parked cars in order to create a sterileinfo-icon area near the CP. Thereupon the van left and so did we. We passed Ar-Ram where there were queues neither for pedestrians nor for vehicles (it was still early) and no detaineesinfo-icon, so we decided to return there on the way back and proceeded to Qalandia where I had not been for some time. Therefore I was unaware of the major construction and demolition in preparation for the wall that have taken place. The concrete slabs (which look somewhat less long than those in Abu Dis) are ready to be pulled up vertically as soon as the sign will be given and the western half of the road has been turned into a dust lane.Towards the end of the road on the left, my usual parking places (5 Sh. For 24 hours) looked deserted, but we observed a roundabout with a beautiful new road leading west parallel to the airstrip and the wall which had a brand new watchtower overlooking the CP.There is not much less garbage on the ground despite the various turnstiles, which are now in working order, two towards the North and two Southward. An elderly volunteer with a huge moustache asked why we hadn’t brought him a thermos with coffee. The queue of vehicles looked endless but the wait was not more than half an hour and at some point even a second lane was opened to improve the flow. In the women’s lane on the way back one of the soldiers shouted: “Get rid of those women, immediately”, but the other soldiers were friendly and explained to us that they helped people with large bundles around the CP and that they also carried babyinfo-icon-carriages to bypass the turnstiles. A car with two ‘guards of the wall’ was blocking the entrance to the parking lot and the men strongly advised us against ever parking our car there again. The ‘office’ is still there, but the attendant is obviously out of work. We decided to check out the new road, which directly connects the Qalandia CP with road 443 and now forms the only entrance to the Atarot Industrial Park. We entered Atarot and drove around the ghost town with only very few buildings still in use (Mercedes Benz amongst others), but many for rent or sale. All exits have been blocked and at the junction, which used to connect to the Ar-Ram Qalandia road a huge earth mound prevents all traffic. At the BP-base a soldier told us that we would be shot at if we proceeded. In the middle of Atarot, on a hill, is an old established secondary school, which will start classes on September 1st. If the wall is erected the children will not be able to reach their school.We wanted to return the same way we had arrived – WHICH PROVED A MISTAKE. There are no signposts, but we realized too late that the entire road now is one-way and all traffic from Qalandia into Jerusalem now has to proceed via Jaba and Hizme – a long detour. Finally, at the traffic light, we were able to turn left (East) through a lively quarter of Ar-Ram and arrived near Tora Bora from where we proceeded into Jerusalem via Pisgat Zeev (there were only four Palestinian cars waiting at the CP and we were whisked through the other lane) to arrive in Ar-Ram where we noted no queue of pedestrians and the cars also passed quickly (it was already after 10:00 AM.On our way home we missed a turn-off to the Begin Road and found ourselves on 443 having to make a turn into Atarot where we found ourselves stuck at an impromptu CP before being able to return and face the regular CP of road 443 into Jerusalem.