Qalandiya, Sun 26.6.11, Afternoon

Translation: Ruth Fleishman

The west wing of the checkpoint was once again closed to the public and their vehicles.

Preparations for September?
A group of high ranking officers came out form the checkpoint facility; among them were military officers, police officers and some civilians and security guards with rifles.
They discussed renovations plans for the pillbox on the corner, a construction that had been abandoned and neglected for (at least) two years, following its arson by Palestinian demonstrators and the damages it sustained.
The group estimated the distance from which stones were thrown during demonstrations, one of them was familiar with the facts and the history of the site and claimed that protestors didn't mind throwing stones even if they hit their own people: "They really don't care whom they hit".
They also expressed their opinions regarding the installation of the video cameras on top of the polls- they transfer images of everything that happens inside and outside the refugee camp. 

At the shed leading to the checkpoint, on the relics of the benches, while a boy named Haled [in the picture] tried desperately to sell us some water as he put on the most wonderful smile we had ever seen, that was meant for the camera, and right beside us was Fadi, a stout man, trying to seduce the lovely Christiana with juicy figs, in that reality, ignoring the stench and neglect, we sat with our friend from Gaza, drinking the steaming coffee that Iman, the coffee salesman, had brewed for us.

We talked about personal and political issues. We heard of the malnourishment that residents of the Gaza Strip suffer from, the main cause are the high unemployment rates and poverty, a large percentage of the people are in need of UNRWA's assistance: "malnourishment is a gender problem", our friend pointed out and explained that women and children are the ones most afflicted by it.
Our friend's expertise and profession is in public health care, he told us that many pregnant women suffer from acute anemia that later affects the health of their children. We heard from him about the opening of Rafih passage, at first there was much excitement regarding it's opening, but that had been cooled off in view of the fact that entering the strip had become much easier, but before exiting it one must register in advance. The waiting list is long and the bureaucratic process is slow and difficult.
He also told us that many of the resident of the strip are hoping that Gilad Shalit would be released, since they believe that their dear ones, who are imprisoned in Israeli jails, would return to their families.