When we approached the checkpoint the police stopped us and told us not to get any nearer to the turnstile where pedestrians were coming out. Several people told us that from where we were standing we couldn't see the mess and the crowding at the entrance to the facility, that hundreds of people were waiting in line. However, only a few were coming out. We asked other people what it was like, and were told that only one line was operating in the building. A man who identified himself as a doctor at Makassed Hospital said it takes him two hours to get to work every morning.

The surroundings are indescribably filthy.

 

 

To see what we could see of the other side of the checkpoint, and pass through the vehicle checkpoint. As soon as we got in, the crowding and confusion were enormous. I tried to take a picture, but could only show a few of the many cars in the jam. (I sent the picture to our new Whatsapp group. Attached here as well) At the traffic circle just inside the gates, a local official directed traffic, trying to get the cars that arrived from all directions into orderly lines. We didn't head into the camp, but looped around the circle to get into the exit lane. Ten or twelve cars went around the circle the wrong way, trying to squeeze into the line early.

Entering the camp took a minute or two. However, from the time we got into line to exit until we reached the checkpoint, where we were treated politely, took half an hour. Getting out is really a mess. While we were waiting, we saw a driver get out of a car ahead of us, go around and open the trunk of his car, and check that it was empty. Evidently he thought he might have left something in it, and evidently that would cause trouble… The police opened the trunks of all the local cars, but not ours.

 

 

Entrance to Issawiya: Cement blocks close off the road. It's possible to get by, via an unpaved parking lot guarded by two border police, a man and a woman. Only students in public schools are allowed to drive through, in organized buses. Everyone else has to go through on foot. While we were standing there, four children came down the blocked road, and at the same time a car came from Jerusalem ; the children crossed the barricade, got into the car, and rode off. Probably they go to a private school. The guards told us that several school buses had already left that morning, and they expected more.

 

We went on to another entrance to Issawiya.

 

Cement blocks limit access, one car at a time could wiggle through. There were no delays. The border police stationed there were bored. One of them told us he had been sent from the northern area to augment the Jerusalem security forces. He asked what we were doing, he had never heard of MachsomWatch. When we said we were a human rights group, he said he had done something similar with Amnesty in Tibet! The two guards at the checkpoint were both men.

At the third entrance to Issawiya, by the Delek gas station, the same arrangement of cement blocks let one car through at a time. Here also there was no pressure.

 

 

At the entrance to the school, a local guard wore a jacket labeled "Security" in Herew. Several other men without uniforms also stood around. They greeted us warmly. A couple of hundred meters away a border police car was parked, with its driver inside. Across the street two border police, a man and a woman, stood and watched the students on their way to school. While we were walking along the street they got into the car and drove away. 8:00.

We drove away too.