Abu Dis, Container Wednesday PM, 19.01.05Observers: Yael R., Noa R., Ayelet F., Tirtza F. (reporting)15:30-17:4015:30The gate of the Monastery is open. Traffic is scarce. 2 taxis and a private car are waiting behind the earth block. No soldiers are seen. 16:05 ContainerChange of shift. Scarce traffic of vehicles and pedestrians. One detainee in the shed, 2 detained cars. R. the commander , H. from the DCO and 2 dog handlers at rest. Rain.We approach the detained drivers. The van was dog inspected 2 and a half hours ago and the driver is still waiting for his ID to be returned. The taxi has been waiting an hour. We go towards the soldiers. H. signals us to enter the soldier's stand. R. is outraged at first, but H. tells him he asked us to come. What about the IDs? "They are being checked", says H.They have been waiting a long time."How do you know? You just arrived!", says R.We talked to them."Would you believe them if they told you they found a million dollars as well?"So how long have they been here?H.: "Don't know".A phone call to the company commander, Avi Biton. He promises to check.16:20 - Another taxi detained and released within a few minutes. 16:23 -The detained taxi and the detainee from the shed are released. The dog handlers leave. The van is still waiting.16:45 -A tractor pulling a cargo of sheep arrives from the forbidden road. R. jumps over the wall and approaches. The driver opens the door but R. slams it back in his face and signals him to go back. From the other side an elderly man descends and tries to speak with him. R. turns around and goes back to the checkpoint, determined, the other man following him and stopping on the road. We go to R. What about them? "They're fine, and you?"The man from the tractor goes and speaks with H. from the DCO, and the tractor is allowed to pass. In the meantime several buses are passing the checkpoint, carrying children and bearing slogans such as "love of Israel" and "Golden Jerusalem".16:55 -We stand by the fence separating the lanes. a fancy car is stopping. The driver identifies himself as vice-minister of finance of the Palestinian Authority. He is allowed to pass as the soldiers giggle at his title. Suddenly R. turns to us, requesting us to move away "according to the regulations". We refuse and ask what those regulations are. A short argument follows and then R. requires our IDs, by his authority as a policeman. We say they are in the car and move away. R. follows us there and we give him 3 IDs.5 minutes later Biton calls back with explanations. R. is a veteran soldier and is bothered by our presence. We ought to be more relaxed. The van is detained by order of the GSS and not the soldiers. We are supposed, according to regulations, to stand in 3 places: By the grocery store, down after the checkpoint and on the hill under the watch tower. None of these places allows a descent view of the checkpoint. While we speak our IDs are returned.17:15 -The van driver is called to speak with someone on the phone. He is given his ID and is released.Another tractor is coming from the forbidden road. This time R. waits for him to pass the iron barrier and for the driver to approach him before he tells him he has to go back. The driver tries to speak but R. doesn't let him and stands close to him in a menacing manner. As the driver still tries to speak R. takes his ID and sends him to the shed without even allowing him to turn off the tractor's motor. The driver calls his nephew who had accompanied him and asks him to do it.17:20 -A van wanting to enter Abu Dis is detained.17:40 -Getting dark. Both vehicles are still detained. We fear that our staying any longer might only encourage R's motivation to detain and show off his power. We leave.