Qalandiya, Fri 11.5.12, Morning

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Place: 
Observers: 
Ofra T., Orit D., Nili F., Michal W. (reporting)
May-11-2012
|
Morning

Translation: Chana Stein

 

9.15 The place is filthy and stinking, as usual. About 50 people crowded in line. All the inside stations were opened and the line moved reasonably quickly. At 9.20 the humanitarian gate opened and closed after a few seconds. At 9.20, the queue began to build up and about 100 people were waiting in line. A group of men and women moved over to the humanitarian gate which again opened for a few seconds.

A 50 year-old woman from Jenin told us that soldiers took her permit. We tried to approach the police officer who did not answer. We then approached a DCO officer who spoke to the woman in Arabic and promised to check the matter.

9.40 about 40 people collected at the humanitarian gate – which opened shortly after and almost all the people passed through. A woman with an American passport was not allowed through. At 9.50 the humanitarian gate again opened and everyone passed through.

10.00 The line at the regular lane was almost empty. Six people were waiting at the humanitarian gate. A policeman spoke to them and checked their permits. Then again a line built up in the regular lane but advanced quickly. A DCO officer came out and explained that the woman who had complained had had a medical permit which was now out of date. On Sunday she should approach the DCO officer in Jenin to get a new one. This he explained also to the woman.

A man speaking fluent Hebrew said he was 86 and wanted to go through to pray. The officer sent him to the humanitarian checkpoint [station no.5?]

By 10.15 the line was practically empty. Our general impression was that the work was done quickly and relatively efficiently.

We heard soldiers’voices on a loudspeaker telling people to get away from the fence dividing the pedestrian section from the vehicles section. As we approached the fence we saw a crowd of Palestinians, and the police ‘dealing with’ young trembling man, a young woman in hysterics next to a red Fiat. People told us that the man drove the car together with his wife and their sick son to get medical attention. He tried to overtake other cars because of the child. Other drivers did not mind but the police apparently panicked at the lack of order. They stopped him, took him out of the car, hit him and threw gas at him. What we saw was the young man twisted in pain and trembling. He was taken by the police. Travellers on a jeep behind him tried to explain to the police what had happened and to help the frightened woman – without success. The man was taken and the frightened, crying woman joined the jeep. We did not manage to see what happened to the sick child and the ‘dangerous’ car. All around we heard angry shouts: ’Do you seen what happens to us?’