Ar-Ram - Qalandiya, Tuesday 18.1.05, PMNorah O., Roni H. (reporting)guest: Jonathan (student)Ar-Ram 15:30A very long line of cars going north, because of random checkings of driversand their papers.Qalandiya 16:00Tremendous traffic at the southern roundabout. The peddlars are back, as weheard also yesterday - a sign of vitality and relative relaxation.We hear about a rather new and very problematic regulation (which is laterconfirmed by brigade commander Micky Edelstein). Cars with yellow licenceplates whose owners have a blue ID and live in East Jerusalem are notallowed to pass north, except for residents of Qalandiya, Kufr Aqeb andSemiramis! The same applies to pedestrians with blue ID and residence inJerusalem (except for Qalandiya, Kufr Aqeb and Semiramis). The onlydifference is that pedestrians going north are not routinely checked!The checkpoint was manned by reserve soldiers. When I arrived at thechecking area (Norah was still busy with the peddlars), the commander of themilitary police approached me and asked very politely that I move 200m(!)away from the checking area. I answered very politely that we have the rightto stay there and that he has no reason for concern. He accepted and wentaway. Immediately after I was approached by the commander of the engineeringcorps with the same request. I told him that we have come to an agreementwith the first commander. This did not interest him and he asked me again toleave. I gave him the same polite answer. But he positioned himself in frontof me, called two other soldiers to do the same and the three of themcreated a "wall" between me and the checking area. I did not say a word, butcontinued to observe and to take notes. In the meantime also Norah arrivedand was asked to step back a couple of steps, which she did. But sheimmediately began to make phonecalls. First she called the army spokespersonand described the absurd situation of the "blockade". Darya was rather takenaback and promised to deal with the issue, which she truly did. When Norahcalled the assistant of the Benyamin brigade commander, Tamar had beenalready informed. She, too, promised to take care of the issue. After awhile Tamar annouced that orders had been given to the checkpoint commanderto leave us alone. But on the ground nothing changed and my three musketeerswere truthfully accompanying me with every step. At about 17:00 began therush hour and many people passed south, relatively fast. During the hour Iwas watching, there were two detainees who were released after 15 minutes.Norah called Tamar again and reported on the unchanged situation. Tamarpromised to come to the checkpoint and indeed, at 17:20 the brigadecommander Micky Edelstein and Tamar arrived. Edelstein waved away angrilythe three soldiers and I thanked him for the guard of honor that I wasgranted. We had a rather long conversation about the events of the last 2weeks and disagreed on the versions of the facts themselves as well as onthe commentaries. Nevertheless we agreed on the necessity to meet under morefavorable circumstances and to discuss our mutual complaints and concerns.Edelstein instructed Tamar to make an appointment for MW as soon aspossible.