Qalandiya. Tuesday PM, 28.12.04.Observers: Yael I. (translating) and Ilana D. (reporting) + Carmel B. MW-member from the NorthQalandiya, A-Ram, Shuafat/Anata Refugee CampFrom 13:00 till 16:00Since we had been told that the situation in Qalandiya is bad between 1:00 and 2:00 PM we rushed there first without stopping in Ar-Ram where, however, we noticed a rather dense line of pedestrians (but no queue for the cars).We decided not to leave the car in Ar-Ram having been informed that the road along the wall has been newly paved. The potholes were as bad as ever, but added to it were some enormous puddles at the spot where traffic was directed to the west of the wall since construction was taking place east of it. Despite these almost insurmountable obstacles some taxis still attempted to drive southward. We parked behind a long line of transits with yellow number plates taking up one lane of the road leading from highway 443 and endangering pedestrians who had to get off far before the roundabout and trudge through the rubble. There must have been some incident beyond the roundabout in the line of cars towards Ramalla, since the line didn’t seem to move and there was a lot of angry hooting. But we hurried to the CP and were somewhat pleasantly surprised that the line was relatively short. The humanitarian queue (exposed to the elements, but the sun was shining) was functioning and there were no detainees. All merchants have been moved north and a large sterile area has been created beyond the CP. We were harassed by one of the young candy-vendors who first approached us politely, shook our hands and asked about Aya, but then he and a friend became extremely obnoxious. An employee of the Finance Ministry who works in Ar-Ram and lives in Ramalla was not in possession of a valid permit and sneaks through every morning via another venue and returns without being checked via Qalandiya in the afternoons. He refuses to apply for the necessary documents, since this is “his country and his government.”The Military Police soldiers (mostly girls) were rather unfriendly and asked us to move away from the CP. Cars passed relatively quickly in both directions. The baggage haulers are still angry that their clients are not allowed to stay with them and the luggage. A bagel vendor was told to move to the far end of the junction. All stands are now located under the steps. On top of the newly built stairs we talked to the owner of the improvised restaurant in the van who was proud of this ‘initiative’ of the taxi drivers. All the yellow cabs are parked along the road towards Jaba. We saw the soldiers of a BP-jeep ‘dealing’ with a cab which was parked underneath Tora-Bora and had apparently awaited illegals there. We returned to Ar-Ram via the road of the taxis through the very lively center of the city and encountered an extremely nasty BP-man at the CP, but there was no line, neither for cars nor for pedestrians, so we continued.At the northern exit of the Shuafat Refugee Camp one lone pedestrian walked over the rubble. At the CP there was no line of cars or of pedestrians and the Ethiopian BP-man greeted us warmly. He had not heard about elections. We noticed some men bypassing the CP over the hill. Suddenly there was a lot of commotion and all the loitering bystanders sprang to attention. Some kids had thrown stones and a BP-jeep and four soldiers had been dispatched up the hill to chase after them. Two sweating soldiers returned with one boy, aged about 16 who was pushed into the shack next to the CP followed by a number of soldiers with drawn rifles. One of then who had remained outside shouted at them: “Not too much, there are human rights’ observers here!” We didn’t want to approach for fear of being sent away. Within a minute or so the mother of the young detainee arrived and screamed at the soldiers. A younger woman with a child followed her and added some information. A middle-aged man who seemed to carry some weight with the soldiers sent them home. After a while the boy was released. The man told us, that he only happened to be in the vicinity, but had done nothing.