Qalandiya, Tue 26.6.12, Morning

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Avital T., Ina F. (reporting)
Jun-26-2012
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Morning
Lines are again extending out to the parking lot when we arrive at 6 a.m. We are told by a senior Civil Administration officer, whom we had never met before but who approaches us to talk about the improvements at Qalandiya, that all five checking stations have been open since 5 a.m. The Humanitarian Gate is opened at 2-10-minute intervals, but those who pass through it are held in the inner courtyard before being released to join the line of Sleeveinfo-icon 5. High school seems to be in recess, as very few students are lined up at the Humanitarian Gate.
Despite the upbeat report by the officer (who left soon thereafter), we are a bit dismayed by the persistently long lines. At 06:40 we begin to track a man about to enter the left-hand cage-like passage. It takes him 15 minutes to traverse that passage and join the line in Sleeve 2 and another 10 minutes to get through the turnstile of Sleeve 2 – all together 25 minutes in these two sections of the waiting line. During the morning there are occasional signs of the tension familiar to us from the bad old days: whistles and calls to open the turnstiles and let people through. On the other hand, random conversations with people on line elicit responses that the situation has improved.
When we leave at 07:30, the lines no longer extend beyond the three cage-like passages. Nevertheless, this morning was a far cry from the ease and flow we witnessed two weeks ago, when the opening of all five sleeves at 5 a.m. was first instituted.