Sansana, Tue 20.11.07, Afternoon

We arrived at the terminal crossing at 16:15.  There were very few workers returning at this hour. They were dropped off at the parking lot and then ran to the checkpoints inside the terminal.  We peeked in and saw that every thing was fast moving – the men passed through in 15 seconds.  Even when there were more workers returning at 4:30, there were no queues.

This is a new, modern check point, but the filth surrounding the building is shocking. Nahal Hebron, which has long since ceased to be a river, is now an open sewer which flows on the other side of the fence along the pathway between the parking lot and the terminal. The stench is horrid. It’s bad now, in the heat it must be unbearable. The areas of greenery along the way are completely full of trash.

We decided to return next week at 5 a.m. to observe what happens when many workers want to pass through.