Qalandiya
05:05 Arrived to an orderly, calm waiting hall. All 5 gates were open. People were going through quickly and quietly
We spent time chatting to the EAPPI representative, a friendly man form Australia
05:45 Suddenly the atmospher in the hall changed dramatically into a thronging, noisy, boisterous crowd. A number of the younger men climbed high up on the fence at the entrances to the gates, whistling & heckling broke out. The police tried to calm the crowds, to no avail
All 3 of us became anxious.
I spoke to the police asking them to open the gates more frequently and for a longer period of time which would hopefully disperse the crowd and reduce the tension. The police were reluctant to do this but the effect was felt.
The humanitarian gate was opened as required from 06:45 which further reduced the tension in the hall
07:10 we left an almost empty but noisy hall and returned to Jerusalem