including Anata

Anata, Ar-Ram, Qalandiya, 31.01.05 p.m.Observers: Chava B, Noa E, Tova S (reporting)At Anata, there were 5 detainees who were caught when they tried to cross via the road rather than the checkpoint. There is a long line of vehicles in both directions. G., commander of the checkpoint greeted us with loud shouts: "Stand only here and not there" When we wanted to speak to the detainees, he got angry. He threatened that if we didn't move, he would call the police. All that time, he was concerned with us rather than the detainees. Because we refused to abide by the restrictions he set up for us, he called me over for an "educational" session. He said that because of us, a detainee would ordinarily would be held for 20 minutes to sign on the form promising that he would not cross over again without a permit will now have to wait even longer because the young soldiers have to look after us rather than checking the cars. The line of cars was very long because each one had to be registered (because of the number of car thefts).Ar-Ram. Here too there is a checking of cars for theft. There were no pedestrians. When we left the checkpoint, there were no pedestrians and no cars.Qalandiya: There were reserve soldiers, military police and a volunteer. We tried several times to get them to open the humanitarian lane, and at last it was open. The commander of the checkpost from the military police complained that she lacks personnel. Some of the military were busy checking a large number of young Palestinians with the glove. The line of cars going south was very long. At around 16:15, the checkpoint was closed and cars were not allowed to cross. We asked why the cars were not allowed to pass and we were given a confused answer with something about secrecy. Suddenly, we noticed that a truck was bringing fuel and it blocked the passage. For about 20 minutes, it was closed. After the fuel was delivered, the checkpoint was reopened. Once again, there was an ambulance with blinking lights that had to cross and was not allowed to do so. Each such case could be a matter of life or death.