Qalandiya, Tue 3.9.13, Morning
Translator: Charles K.
As usual these days, long lines when we arrived at 05:40, reaching into the parking lot. All the lanes were open but operated very slowly, also as usual at this hour. We waited more than 10 minutes for the revolving gates to open for the first time since our arrival. We searched for a coin to bang on the metal to get the attention of the soldier in the “aquarium,” but then the whistles of those waiting succeeded in opening the gates. A duty policeman was in the “aquarium” but didn’t come out while we were there.
As soon as we arrived we met a new pair of Ecumenicals and also a pair of guys from Blue-White. All had many questions; our impression was that the young men from Blue-White hadn’t received any orientation at all about the checkpoints and their operation (one asked why we were there!).
The DCO soldier arrived at 06:10 (there was already a sizeable crowd at the humanitarian gate), opened it immediately and then whenever a few people were waiting.
The congestion at the checkpoint wasn’t reduced until 07:30, but from around 07:00 the revolving gates opened more frequently.