Qalandiya, Tue 9.7.13, Morning

Routine morning

Arriving at 5:45 we found medium-length queues but all the check posts were operating and the progress seemed reasonable. Once or twice, in response to complaints of those in line, the soldier stationed in the "aquarium" opened the turnstile. When the Matak soldier arrived, we introduced him to our new volunteers. The Humanitarian gate was opened at 6:15 at our request and a few women that were on line passed through. Otherwise, the gate was opened only once more, as someone had resolved that the usual queues were appropriate.

By 6:30 the queues had dissolved and arrivals passed through the left-hand enclosure. We also went through inspection so as to familiarize our new volunteers with the system. We left at 6:45. At the exit we met an Ecumenical colleague who had counted the passers-through and reported that since 4:30 - 2000 people had gone through (the usual average is 3000). There were no students of course. Perhaps the approach of Ramadan lowered the number of passers-through.