'Azzun 'Atma, Sun 14.9.08, Morning

05:10 – All is still dark but tens of Palestinians are already sitting near the road that leads to Israel, waiting for employers to come and take them to work. At the entrance to the village there are many cars and people and the place is bustling with activity. The Falafel stall isn't here (because of Ramadan – the Muslim holiday). Taxis are available for going down toward the checkpoint. G. the staff sergeant, comes towards us while we are still where the cars are parked. He wants to find out what we intend to do there and allows us to pass to the other side of the checkpoint to see what is going on there.

At the entrance to Azzun Atme, about 60 people are waiting patiently in the long line on the sidewalk. No one is pushing in, no one is shoving or shouting. The checks are carried out quickly and in an orderly way. The soldiers are civil and do their work quietly and very efficiently. (It's important to mention it because, based on our experience, this is not something that can be taken for granted.) There is no line of cars on either side of the checkpoint. Every car that arrives is checked immediately and passes. A woman who gets here and tries to pass in the car lane is sent to be checked on the magnometer. She walks to the head of the line and enters the turnstile while the waiting men enable her to pass. A young man turns to us with wet and torn papers and asks for help. He says he passes here every day but today they wouldn't let him. We turn to the checkpoint commander, G. the staff sergeant, and ask him what can be done about it. G. checks the papers and speaks to the soldier at the post who has refused to let the man pass. He calls the man to check the rest of his papers, but since he has no document with a picture, he is sent back.

According to our measuring, it has taken a man standing at the end of the line 35 minutes to get to the inspection.

06:40 – We leave.