Abu Dis, Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal), Thu 20.6.13, Morning
5:10 Olive Terminal
When we arrived we found the soldiers (one male one female) busy with their cell phones, barely lifting their heads to nod at the person presenting documents and with one finger on the machine. Two passages were open, with a line of more than 10 in front of each. Later a third passage was opened.
Around 5:30 waves of people arrived, forming long and twisting lines, intersecting with each other. Once in a while the soldier in the aquarium closed the outside turnstile.
From time to time one of the stations closed, and those waiting rushed into another line, the first becoming last and the last becoming first. After a few minutes the station reopened, and again there was a rush back. A nauseating sight. This game of harassment occurred several times, and we wondered whether the soldiers are aware of the effect on those waiting in line.
Crossing time was 15-20 minutes.
The atmosphere at this hour is relaxed, people talking quietly and trying to avoid the droppings of pigeons clustered under the roof. But when the annoyance of opening and closing stations began, restlessness and tension developed.