Ar-Ram, Qalandiya 27.1.05 p.m.Observers: Ivonne P, Lia N, Edna K, Marta K (reporting) guest Anna (Swedish journalist)At the Ar-Ram checkpoint, it was quite. Few people passing. On the way to Qalandiya, the side of the road to the right of the wall was blocked and we had to travel on the left side with all kinds of impediments. Our experienced driver, Edna, maneuvered her car as if it were a four wheel drive. With the huge holes, we were grateful that it was dry today or it would have been impossible. It is a mission impossible for anyone who has to make this trip on a daily basis. At the intersection, there was a massive traffic jam, not the result of army measures, of people, vehicles, and peddlers.At the checkpoint, we met a young Palestinian from Haifa, about 27 years old, who had been in Ramallah for a job interview and was now detained. When he stood at the checkpoint and heard a woman soldier, M, scream "shut your mouth" at a Palestinian, he told her to speak properly. His i.d. was taken for inspection and he was told that he had to report to the police for interfering with the work of a public servant. His i.d. was returned an hour and a half later without explanation. When he tried to complain to the commander of the checkpoint, M burst out laughing. She thought that he should be grateful that he wasn't arrested. This same M took our i.d.'s when we returned from a short visit to Qalandiya. After a short check, we got them back.There were a few happy moments such as when Alexii allowed a blind man and an old sick man to pass, as well as a student without a permit but with a document indicating that he was a volunteer with an international organization, and other incidents such as that of Emil from the DCO who tried to be cooperative. We heard the complaints of a student who is, as a matter of course, singled out every time he tries to pass. Large packages, such as two bicyles, a large jug and several jars were allowed to pass from the side. A television crew came to the checkpoint, trying to make a film stressing the black humor in the situation. At that point, the machsom women were a point of interest. H entered into the picture and in fluent Hebrew complained about the hopeless situation, and said that Sharon and the majority of the people must accept the results of the election . He then asked rhetorically if what we are doing has any influence on the impossible situation. A discussion ensued with no clear results. And I was left with the uncomfortable feeling that I had when I was with the rest of the women in the "humanitarian land" at the checkpoint and saw beside me a little girl of four who stood among the adults, unable to see anything and I thought of the feeling of suffocation and unpleasantness that she must feel all the time when she crosses this checkpoint. I think that she will not carry with her any "humanitarian" memories from this experience.