'Azzun, 'Azzun 'Atma, Eliyahu Crossing, Qalqiliya, Mon 14.11.11, Morning
06:40 Tani Gate at Elkana/Maschah
Even though the Gate was supposed to close at 06:30, we decided to pop over and see what was going on there - there wasn't anybody there and the gate was locked. So, we don't actually know if it had ever been open.
06:45 'Azzun 'Atma
A lot of workers are waiting for transport and getting warm next to little fires. There were about 70 people in line at the gate. The process went very smoothly. The gate for vehicles was open for all the women and anyone who had a permit to stay, living in the seam area
. Children and youth cross over from the seam area into 'Azzun 'Atma. They opened the backpacks of two of them at the entrance. One man who tried to pass was not permitted as his document was no longer valid - he was sent back to renew it. At first, the line did not decrease because there were always additional people coming. We checked the time it took one man to go through (we started a bit after he arrived) - 30 minutes to pass through, 35 minutes all together. A man from the border line asked permission to bring a tractor which he had ordered without its driver having to stand in the long line, because it would soon be raining and he wouldn't be able to finish his job. After some discussion, he was allowed to pass by the pedestrian line.
At around 07:30, the line started to thin out - clearly most of the workers arrive very early, and then wait outside so they can be sure that they will get through and arrive at work on time, as one can never know how much time it will take them to get through the gate. Today there were 2 inspection booths and the efficiency of one of them was increased when a military policeman began to call out to the inspector within the booth (from outside) the number of the person, while meanwhile checking his documents.
07:45 Tamar Gate (Supposed to open at 08:00).
No one waiting - it seems that the olive harvest, or the passage to the olive harvest, is over by then.
We continued according to route 3 to Sinariyah, Kfar Tolti', 'Azzun and back by way of Qalqilya and the Eliyahu Gate.
9:00 Eliyahu Gate
There were no Palestinians waiting to go through nor any vehicles for inspection.