Qalandiya

We arrived at 05:15.  There were already lines at the vehicle checkpoint.  The lines at the pedestrian crossing extended a little beyond the canopied area, but were orderly.  When we entered we saw only three inspection booths open, but the revolving gates opened frequently and people went through at a reasonable rate.  People waiting told us that things were ok today.

A policeman arrived at 05:30 and announced over the loudspeaker that booths 4 and 5 were now open.  The revolving gates remained open longer than usual each time; many people came in to wait at the five open booths.  The lines shortened, no longer extending beyond the canopied area.  The few women who came went through the regular line.  We chose one who arrived at about 05:35 and joined the regular line.  By 05:42 she’d reached the line in the caged area nearest us.

The police officer, who was standing outside the aquarium, began talking to us.  He says that the reports we publish are incorrect.  He says he’s been here for 13 years; he’s seen the development of the checkpoint.  They keep track of how quickly people cross, employ cameras, and according to their data it usually takes someone six minutes to go through the checkpoint and reach the bus outside, and twelve minutes when there’s congestion.  We insisted it took longer, certainly on days when it’s congested and the lines become masses of people.  We said they have to ensure all the inspection booths are manned and people cross at a reasonable rate.  He says they operate according to rules laid down following an appeal to the Supreme Court; to open more booths and provide better service requires funding.

Meanwhile, since he’d been speaking with us he hadn’t opened the revolving gates; those on line began calling to him to open them so they could go through (the security forces call it “flowing them”).  He responded that he doesn’t have to do what they asked, but nevertheless opened the revolving gates, kept an eye on how things were going and every few minutes opened them again.  We kept our eye on that woman.  At 05:47 she went through the revolving gate at the end of the caged area and moved to the line at Booth 2.  At 05:53 she went through the revolving gate at Booth 2 and disappeared from sight.  It will probably take a few more minutes for her to complete the process and exit.  A total of about 20 minutes on a calm morning with no congestion.  We invite the policeman to doublecheck us with the cameras…

As 6 o’clock approached a few women were waiting at the humanitarian gate, but when they saw the regular line advancing they moved to it.  A female soldier arrived at 06:00 to relieve the soldier in the aquarium and a policewoman.  At 06:05 a female officer arrived and then the noncom from the DCL and a security guard.  Since no one was waiting at the humanitarian gate they stood together talking.  When a few people and pupils came to the humanitarian gate the noncom opened it for them.  Seeing the humanitarian gate opened, some people moved over from the regular line, but there was no congestion either at the humanitarian line or the regular line.  The noncom again opened the humanitarian line for people who were waiting, but most went to the regular line which was moving quickly.  There were lines only in the cages, not elsewhere.

06:20  We left, returned to the car and joined the line to the vehicle checkpoint.  As usual, people at the plaza drive the wrong way to merge into the line at the crossing, saving a few minutes.  Today the driver of a small car outdid himself, slipped his car between the posts surrounding the paved plaza and took a shortcut right through it.