'Azzun 'Atma, Thu 12.8.10, Morning
Translation: Suzanne O.
It is the beginning of both Ramadan and the winter clock in Palestine. There is nothing new at the roadblock.
6:20 a.m.
At Azun Atma we sorely missed the sergeant who moved people through the crossing with great efficiency two weeks ago. Today the sleeve
is excessively full and the Military Policewomen in charge of the turnstile are in no hurry to activate it. We tried to persuade the two soldiers and the Military Policeman with them to allow two labours to wait on the other side of the turnstile so that they could save time instead of needless walking all the way round. According to the soldiers they are waiting from orders from on high. What a pity the Chief of Staff was busy with the Tirkel Committee and so was not available to allow them to hasten the crossing process.
Most of the time they were busy discussing whether to permit a donkey and its owner - who cross every day - to cross today as well. We were there close to an hour and nothing was agreed. The donkey didn't cross, the queue didn't get shorter and the crossing arrangements were not eased.
As we have said more than once - the power of a single soldier at a roadblock is great and not always used for good.
The labourers waiting for transport told us that there had been problems on the other side of the roadblock today. According to them there have been no problems for a long time but now there are difficulties again. We asked the soldiers who said that there have been no changes in orders. Does anyone cross the Azun Atma roadblock on the other side?