Qalandiya, Wed 21.9.11, Afternoon
Translation: Bracha B.A.
16:00 – At the southern area the minibuses have been moved to the road leading to 443. The parking lot for the busses has now been designated for all types of military vehicles such as a bulldozer, the maintenance tender for the seamline zone, and police cars and other military vehicles. Two attractive horses are also tied there. There are sounds of shooting, sirens, and loudspeakers from the watchtower. Despite all the noise there are very few pedestrians and vehicles.
The waiting shed is empty except for the candy vendor who is there every day. The unemployed taxi drivers are killing time playing children's games.
At 16:30 there is a change in shifts among the soldiers who are stationed at the entrance to the refugee camp. All of them are equipped with gas masks, tear gas guns and protective gear. There is a stench from a garbage container and a protected crew from channel 2 TV are also in the area.
There is a strange feeling as opposed to the reports of unrest that we heard about. The soldiers calmly go back and forth. People coming to the checkpoint from the direction of Ramallah don't appear to be worried. Everyone wants to talk and discuss things. A doctor who works in the National Health Clinic emphasizes his desire for peace. A self-educated owner of a grocery store says that he reads Gideon Levi, Amira Hass, and other columnists. "You have a partner, but you're afraid. This is our home and we want quiet." Looking at the wall he adds, "We don't have any breathing room." Another young man adds that there won't be intifada.
Everything is conducted in a calm quiet and complacent manner.
17:20 – the crossing for people with blue ID cards and the minibus route going south are closed. The cage is full and there is only one sleeve
open. Consequently the few people who want to cross have to wait for over a half hour. Palestinians' time has no significance or value.