Ar-Ram, Qalandiya, Wed 17.9.08, Morning

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Observers: 
Ela G, Nava E (reporting)
Sep-17-2008
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Morning

 It was very crowded in the morning, but people were passed through quickly and efficiently.

6:20 Qalandiya
Surprise.  At such an early hour, it was not crowded -- only about 120 people in the turnstiles at any given time and in spite of this, the crossing time was not less than 1/2 hour. In the humanitarian line, it was also not crowded -- 20-30 people waiting but the gate opened every five minutes and the line emptied. It appeared that there was crowding in the security stations and therefore, the turnstiles were not opened for 15 minutes.

6:40 Qalandiya.
I asked the policeman who was responsible today how it happened that today there were not lines of people bursting out as usual and his answer was "when it's crowded, you complain and when it is quiet, you ask what happened.  It was very crowded this morning but we passed everyone quickly and efficiently"

7:00 Qalandiya
In the last minutes, 150 people passed in the regular line and 100 remained in the short line and 40 in the humanitarian line while 100 passed from that line. The vehicular crossing was very crowded and cars were held up from all directions. Crossing time was about 20 minutes.

Qalandiya epilogue
9:20 We got a telephone call from Zully, a member of machsomwatch who had a private meeting at the checkpoint. The Palestinians reported to her that there was a woman soldier checking by the name of L. who was screaming at the Palestinians in Hebrew, who was angry that they did not understand her "What isn't clear?  I told you to put it in the machine" and was joking around with a soldier at her side while neglecting her work while the line grew longer.  In order to verify what they said, she crossed the inspection area again -- the passageway of L. and indeed, the soldier continued to scream in Hebrew at the people and to hold up the line because of misunderstandings that developed from situations wherein the person in charge shouts on those who are expected to follow instructions in a language which they do not understand.