Qalandiya, Thu 8.12.11, Morning
Translator: Charles K.
We were supposed to begin at 10:00 but the guests from abroad left Haifa late and reached Qalandiya only at 10:30. During the half hour we waited for them, we had a chance to talk with the conference’s chairperson. It was astounding to discover how little she knew about the occupation in general, and about the checkpoints and what’s behind them in particular. Concepts like “residence” of East Jerusalemites, and their significance, seem “delusional.” “But they receive National Insurance Institute payments.” She’d never heard about “the focus of life,” of course – and that was only a tiny part of the discussion. Permits, magnetic card, “back-to-back,” “humanitarian crossing” – all that could have been happening on the moon, not on her doorstep.
The checkpoint is almost entirely empty at this hour. Two cleaners are sweeping the area of the fenced inspection corridors. The amount of trash swept up from the ground is astonishing. The shed is very clean – a sight we’re not used to. About ten people in one of the pens. Most are women; the men appear to be employed in white-collar occupations.
When I was asked to guide the group’s tour, I explained that it would be late by the time we arrived and the place would be empty. I was afraid that, without the morning’s congestion, Qalandiya would look like “just another border crossing” – but that didn’t happen. The guests were stunned and shocked. “Is that how people are treated?” “These crossings aren’t fit for human beings – they’re like cages for animals,” etc.
The coffee-seller is very pleased at the unexpected business. The coffee helps overcome some of the bitter cold, and participants asked many questions about the bureaucracy of occupation. The cruelty and inhumanity of the situation penetrated deeply into their consciousness.
The participants were very apprehensive about crossing over to the Palestinian side. “How will the Palestinians know not to fire at us?” Even though the crossing was smooth and easy, it was clear that a weight had been removed from their hearts when they were finally seated on the bus that took them to tour Jerusalem.
We left at 12:30.