Qalandiya

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Roni Hammermann, Vivi Suri, Tamar Fleishman Translator: Charles K.
May-24-2015
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Afternoon

That’s the entire difference.

 

 

1.

A boy, nine or ten years old, went through the checkpoint by himself.

He pressed the qushan (the original of the birth certificate) to the bulletproof window.

Female soldier:  “What’s your father’s name?”

The boy didn’t reply.  He didn’t understand Hebrew.

Female soldier:  “What’s your father’s name, your father!” she yelled, as if the boy were deaf.

The man behind him on line translated the question into Arabic.

The boy answered.

Female soldier:  “What’s your mother’s name?”

The man translated, the boy answered.  The boy passed the test.

The soldier motioned with her hand: Go.

The boy went.

 

2.

I stood facing the female soldier, pressed my ID card to the window.

I:  “Do you want to know my mother’s name?”

The soldier:  “There’s no photo on the birth certificate.”

I:  “So?”

The soldier:  “Maybe it isn’t his.”

I:  “So?”

The soldier:  “Maybe it’s stolen.”

I:  “OK – Do you want to know my mother’s name?”

The soldier:  “It’s not necessary, you’re an Israeli citizen.”