Qalandiya, Tue 17.1.12, Morning

Unfortunately, all the positive things we wrote and told our colleagues about Qalandiya over the past two weeks were wiped out this morning. While still out in the parking lot at 06:00 we could hear the dawn shouts of protests of the Qalandiya we know and despair of. Long lines led into the three cage-like passages before the first turnstiles, and there was already a small crowd by the Humanitarian Gate, although all five checking stations were open. It was so cold that ink in my pen froze. When we arrived there were two officers on duty, one from the blue police and the other from the Civil Administration. Our colleague from the EAPPI (Ecumenical volunteers from Europe), who had been there since 04:30, told us that the problem began at about 05:00 due to the inefficiency and lack of interest of the woman soldier in charge of opening the turnstiles. The police officer arrived at 05:30; the Civil Administration officer entered at 06:00 and opened the Humanitarian Gate. Thereafter another two Civil Administration officers joined the group. One of them, known to us as very professional― who had told us the week before about the efforts being made to improve the management of the checkpoint―approached us, apparently in chagrin, to joke that only when we turn up is there a mess at Qalandiya and asked us never to return.

At 07:00 the lines leading into the three passages still extended to the back of the covered area, but each time the Humanitarian Gate was opened the entire crowd in front of it was allowed through. At 07:20, when we left, the situation had calmed considerably as the lines barely extended beyond the three cage-like passages and more people were being allowed through the turnstiles each time they opened. We waited only a short time to drive through the vehicle passage, and we could see that the line for Jerusalem I.D. holders was reasonably short, though the bitter cold and strong wind certainly added no pleasure to their wait.