Afternoon

E-Ram – there were many cars but few pedestrians.Qalandya - we split up into 2 groups. Southern entrance the flow of people passing through was quite smooth as was the flow of cars and there was very little inspection. There were two “humanitarians” checking the people. C.B.(One of our observers, and not a young one): “We were standing near the barrier – N. a little further away. Suddenly one of the “humanitarians” ran up to me and demanded that I “get lost”, and shouted that I was disturbing him. I refused to move and then he pushed me first with his hands and then with the butt of his rifle and finally tore off my tag and threw it to the ground. All this, while he cursed me in the most vulgar language”.N. A.: “When I saw this, I ran towards C. and when I addressed him and called him to stop – he then attacked me – tore off my tag – threw away my bottle and hit my arm – cursing”.C. and N. remained there and N. called Peter Lerner (in charge of abuse & misbehavior in police & army).Northern entrance (S., T., J.) – a regular soldier – cursed (you disgust me, he said to us) and wanted us to leave.Tora Bora: The barrier is blocked and not in use. However Palestinians still attempt to get through. As we left – we heard a commotion behind us – a soldier alone, was shouting orders at a group of Palestinians (one woman among them) he had caught, who had just got through the barrier. He forced them to crouch on the ground and got out of control – he kicked those seated with his boot; he bashed 2 Palestinians on the head causing open wounds; he fired 3 time in the air; to us he shouted “if you interfere, one of them will get a bullet in his head”.The group was detained for about 2 hours and then received their ID cards, but were forced to go back to Ramallah.. Despite the fact that shelters have been constructed over certain areas, the atmosphere was particularly violent and volatile and rifles were raised. It was an horrible day.