'Atara, Qalandiya, Wed 20.7.11, Afternoon
Translation: Bracha B.A.
Qalandiya Checkpoint, 15:20
There is only one sleeve
open in the pedestrian crossing and about 20 people are waiting. One person is waiting at the Liaison and Coordination Administration crossing and says he has been waiting for an hour. It's impossible to contact the soldier in the protected position at the inspection point. Meanwhile another two have arrived. After several telephone calls to the command and the Liaison and Coordination Administration, the Humanitarian hotline, and after a 20-minute wait, they were allowed inside. The signs that state that the checkpoint operates in an orderly manner are obviously irrelevant. At 15:45 sleeve Number 1 opens, but it is impossible to understand the loudspeaker announcement.
We left at 16:00. Today, at least, there were few people crossing. The filthy shed serves as a waiting place for people to pass the time. The candy vendor is there with his wagon. He says that even if he earns NIS 50 each day it is barely enough to provide for his family.
There is a fruit and vegetable market operating between the exit from Qalandiya Checkpoint in the direction of A-Ram.
Lil Checkpoint
The checkpoint is open and operating. We didn't see anyone being checked, but the situation could change within a minute.
16:40 – Atara Checkpoint
We parked our car on the lower road and went up to the che3ckpoint. The pillbox is manned and traffic is moving. There is a lot of traffic moving in both directions. The soldier in the pillbox saw us through his binoculars and ten minutes later a jeep arrived carrying three reservists – one of whom was an officer – to question us. For a change, they were pleasant. IT is important for us to demonstrate our presence at this isolated place. |The drivers and pedestrians were pleased to see us.