Qalandiya

Qalandiya, Wednesday afternoon, 9.8.2006Observers: Ruthie B. Hanna T. Tami B. (reporting), Natanya translatingThe continuous screaming and shouting of the soldier over the loudspeaker at the car lane is impossible to describe. ”Go back. Come forward. Stop. Stop. Stop.!!!!!! Stand. What is the matter with you. You are not speaking nicely to me. Tell that woman to stop writing and look at me. You go on foot. The women standing over there. You cannot take photographs. This is a closed military area. If you don’t like it go to Hizma. Truck go back.” Suddenly three soldiers broke into the area, ran forwards in the direction of the camp and disappeared behind the bend in the road. About half a minute later we heard three shots and the soldiers pounced on a young man and threw him to the ground, pulling his hands back. The man pushed his feet into the ground and said nothing. What are you doing?He threw stones. No stone was thrown. But last week, it seems later on, the man’s kiosk was thrown over and that was a good enough reason to fall upon him violently and see to it that he would be imprisoned for two to three months. Who knows maybe he will become a collaborator that way.And also while the woman soldier was handling the car line (the second stage) three children were flying kites. The zatar and sumac peddler came down to 10 shekel and the soldier screamed out slowly “One. One. One. The carousel is closed.”