Qalandiya

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Aug-6-2003
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Ar-Ram at 06.20 seemed very smooth and
ordinary apart from two men parked on the roadside who looked as if
they were from the GHSS. The traffic was free flowing and nothing
seemed amiss.

Qalandya, 06.40. A spit and polish operation was in full swing.
Jerusalem municipal employees armed with big white official garbage
bags, were busily clearing up months of accumulated rubbish.
Freshly printed metal signs in Hebrew and Arabic indicated who was
supposed to go where, and there was a new awning closer to the
soldiers' shaded checking point. Apparently, members of some
Knesset Committee, plus the media, were due to visit at about
14:00. A handicrafts stall had been allowed to set up, and there
were several vegetable sellers, all plying their trade unhindered.
Two primitive water troughs had been set up, but none of the taps
worked. Before we left, we stood in line to return through the
checkpoint. The soldier waved us aside. "By law", he
said, we were not allowed to queue up with the
others.