Qalandiya

5:30: Due to the difficulty we encountered last week exiting with our car, we parked outside the CP. A young Czech writing a dissertation on the privatization of the CPs accompanied us.

5:32: There were no lines. The central pen was open and people were passing through. Five counters were already operating. Two girl-soldiers were stationed in the aquarium – unusual at such an early hour. Smooth passage most of the time. No lines in the pens and passage was immediate. On the other hand, the traffic in the vehicle passage area was very heavy.

6:35: We left. Throughout, lines were short and the central pen was in constant operation.

There was no need to open the Humanitarian lane. People were pleased, smiling and communicative at the CP. Apparently the causes for this mood were not so pleasing: due to the tense situation there were more soldiers on duty and they were more attentive. Hassan told us about violence at the shuk on the previous day.