Qalandiya

Soldiers: We established a correct
relationship with the commander in charge, U. The soldiers'
attitude towards the Palestinians was also correct, but with very
strict implementation of orders -- no permit, no passing. U. said
he had been attacked by somebody with a knife 2 days ago. It sounds
like a familiar scare story. About 10 people were detained, caught
in Tora Bora (including women and children). Their IDs were
returned minutes after we came. A group of students in an El Quds
summer course were turned away, because for the soldiers, the
academic year had ended. A doctor from Jericho Hospital was denied
passage for lack of a valid permit. He claimed there is an
agreement between the Palestinian Health Ministry and the IDF that
doctors can move around without permits. A call to the humanitarian
IDF and the DCO, and the doctor was allowed to pass. H., 25 years
old, studies journalism, demanded free passage to Jerusalem in a
very aggressive manner. Within moments he was surrounded by 5
soldiers and a typical young-men confrontation developed, where H.
shouted about his basic human rights and "do not touch
me" and 5 armed soldiers wanted to show him "who's boss
here". A bypassing Palestinian wanted to calm H., but was
prevented by the soldiers. One of us went into the circle and
pulled H. out and far from soldiers. It took us a lot of effort to
calm him. We negotiated with the soldiers that H. will give up
going to Jerusalem and will leave the checkpoint area, and in
return will get his papers.