Qalandiya

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Oct-21-2003
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The tension at Qalandya was palpable and the soldiers were
unusually nervous and even quicker than usual to react negatively.
An immediate row broke out when G. our guest photographer, started
to photograph from outside the checkpoint. The verbal clash quickly
deteriorated into a physical clash after G. took exception to being
told: "Get out of here, ya'alah, scram!" The episode led
to a rapidly convened meeting with F., head of the Beit-El DCO.

From him we learned that IDs are never lost, are always handed in
properly, and that Palestinians claiming they have been lost --one
of the most frequent complaints we encounter-- have merely been too
lazy or negligent to come and claim them! Also that Qalandya
checkpoint is "by far more humane and civilized than any of
those further north." So now we know!

On a more practical level, we learned that all special permits
issued before October 7 have lost their validity. In general,
holders of orange and green Palestinian ID cards are not being
granted leave to pass even where they have permits, but the
soldiers can exercise some judgement in "humanitarian"
cases. Children under 16 must have their birth certificates with
them-- photocopies are not acceptable-- all Palestinian documents
are suspect, "most are forgeries".

K., the soldier in immediate charge of the checkpoint, and over two
years in the job, later told us that the old rule of permitting
free passage to Palestinian women no longer holds good. "We
let them through if they are obviously feeble. Someone like you--
certainly not!"

The lines (one for blue ID card-holders and one for orange and
green cards) grew longer and shorter and longer again throughout
the time we were there. Whatever good was done by the calmer
approach of the older volunteers was undone immediately by the
almost hysterical behaviour of one woman soldier who had no way of
dealing with her job other than to shriek "Get back, get back!
Don't you people know what a queue is!" She was matched by the
tall soldier who, to growls of "Back, there! Back, I
said!" also frequently added a gratuitous shove.

It was not a shift during which we were able to do any direct good,
although we did urge one woman to try her luck again in having her
health-related permit accepted. Indeed, the female volunteer who
relented and let the woman pass.