Qalandiya

All of the five checking posts were operating, the lines were not long, and when we arrived at 5:30 they were advancing at a decent pace – until change of  guard at 6:00. We then noticed that despite the modest or non-existent lines, the soldier in the "aquarium" was ignoring his duty and was focused on something else – perhaps his mobile phone? We tried to catch his attention but to no avail, until someone on line shouted louder and caused him to wake up and release the turnstiles. Subsequently they opened up more frequently and by 6:30 the lines did not extend beyond the pens. At 6:45 the left-hand turnstile remained open and the people could then pass freely through into the lines. The 'humanitarian' gate opened at 6:15 (by the policeman on duty, although the Matak soldier and the security person were there). While the turnstile remained open, a woman approached us saying that the situation the day before (when we were absent) was terrible – warranting the necessity of our daily presence. At about 7:00 we accompanied our guest through the checkpost. We were standing on line 3 for about 5 minutes and the turnstile was not operating. There were no Palestinians in the checking area. We could see that the post of the person in charge of checking was vacant.       I attempted to contact the Matak to inquire - but the moment I took out my mobile phone the turnstile renewed operation. Coincidence perhaps??