Azzun, Qalqiliya, Tue 2.10.07, Morning
6:45 Border Police checkpoint at the entrance to Qalqiliya
The checkpoint is almost empty. A taxicab is detained by the side of the road for the purpose of a thorough collective inspection. When this one departs, after being delayed for more than 15 minutes, a second cab is pulled over in its place.
Generally speaking, traffic is flowing, except for the cars that were randomly picked for the thorough inspection.
A young Border Policewoman comes over to find out what we're doing here and why, and to have a discussion about it. She listens, doesn't attack, and the conversation is carried on openly and pleasantly. At the final analysis, unfortunately, the present situation appears to her "logical" because "this is how I was raised." We received no other reasons.
From that policewoman we found out about a female squad commander from the same army base, who slapped a kid that cursed her at the checkpoint, and was caught in the act by the camera
of an international photographer. The squad commander was grounded to the base as punishment, her promotion will be postponed, and she will not become an officer. The soldier we were speaking with gave this story as an example of the negative effects of human rights organizations – in her opinion, no red line was crossed, and the punishment was unjust.
Azzun – no checkpoint at the entrance to Azun on road 55.