Qalandiya, Monday 27.12.04 PMObservers: Tova S., Hava B., Noa A., Sara A. (reporting)At the square we talk with the vendors and drivers who tell us among other things that the security guard of the Wall habitually stops Palestinians and checks their IDs. As we speak, we hear loud yells of taxi drivers near Tora Bora. We approach and see two soldiers standing on the hill, guns drawn, pointing toward two young guys standing on the road, motionless. They crossed the quarry and the soldiers descended upon them and brutally grasped them and led them to the CP. They look very frightened. Seems one of the soldiers is the CP commander, O. and throughout our vigil proves to be a nasty callous wall. He never fails to announce that he is the commander, he decides, but instead of solving problems he is constantly talking on his communication system, or bickering with elderly and sick people, vengeful and punishing. He seats the two men caught in Tora Bora on a concrete slab and will not allow them to stand even as they complain repeatedly that sitting on the concrete is extremely difficult in the cold. When we appeal to him, he answers: “If you have a problem with it, give them your coat to sit on”. The CP looks accordingly. Teeming with people, one great chaos. The humanitarian line is crowded, only one soldier checking. The soldier: “It’s crowded because they’re animals”. We called Shadi who arrived shortly and when he saw the pressure, he went to the humanitarian line with several soldiers, and within minutes things quieted down. The line of waiting vehicles is very heavy. An ambulance manages to wind its way forward after a very long time. Two van drivers who parked at a spot forbidden by the soldiers tell us that their car keys have been confiscated since noon. The keys are in the CP commander’s pocket for hours. Shadi sees to it that they get them back. As darkness falls, the two detainees are finally released. Suddenly “blue eyes” shows up – the sadist soldier who always bullies the local venders. As he sees us his immediate reaction is: “Get out of my sight. All you do is make waves”… Here and there we saw election campaign posters. Musa, a human rights activist involved in the elections, told us he does not witness any signs of the promised “leniency” at the checkpoints he has visited.