Abu Dis, Container (Wadi Nar), Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal), Wed 23.1.08, Afternoon

15:15 Olives terminal

 Palestinian side.   A cold day, and only few people attempt to cross at this hour.  We were able to enter the terminal, and so crossed ourselves.   After 2 turnstiles (both governed electronically, but the first was open to all), one comes to the plate glass windows where one shows one's ID.  Coats and bags are laid on a roller into a magnometer, like at airports.   Passage was swift and eventless in both directions.

16:00, Container CP

  Just a few cars in each direction, no queue, no delayes, no detainees.  Passage swift.  A group of workers trudged up the hill from the direction of Bethany (since the road is one-way), and they too crossed in no time.   The BPs came over to exchange a few words with us, and were friendly enough.  When we said we were leaving, because there seems to be no problems, one said plaintively:   "Don't you find it interesting here?".  We left, to the hee-hawing of the asses tied there, and to the hand waving of a couple of smiling small kids.   How misleading the tranquility!