Qalandiya, Wed 18.4.12, Afternoon

Translation: Judith Green

15:30

Terribly windy, hazy and breaking of a heat wave, all the debris is flyng in the air.  A lot of crowding on the way to the checkpoint from the north.  The struggle for survival overwhelms the rules of traffic.  (but, in a lawless place, why should there be traffic rules?)

15:50

There was an accident in the area of the gas station going towards Jerusalem, so all the traffic towards the checkpoint is coming from an alternative route.

16:05

Dust inside the shed, filth and debris, but three lines are open.  In the northern roundabout there are signs behind the wire fence:  "Also the signs are forbidden".  The roundabout is full of vehicles from every direction, very slow movement.  Those going south are completely stopped.  The usual ritual takes place when we approach the fence.  The guards from the private security company are called over, and also from the guard tower they order us to move.  The guard made a compromise for us, "Just don't touch the fence."

16:30

Now, when the crowding is increasing, only the first lane is open, in which there are 20--30 waiting.  The soldier in the glass box simply fell asleep for a few minutes.

16:50

We left.  On the way back to Jerusalem, there is another traffic jam from the parking lot to beyond the gas station.