Habla

As we were getting out of the car, one of the people leaving Habla said to us: “The officer is drinking chocolate milk; she lets one person through at a time.  She doesn’t care.”

A few minutes later another man says:  “Where can I go to convert to Judaism?  To be Jewish, or British…just not a Palestinian Arab. Phooey,” and raises his eyes heavenward.

Between the time the checkpoint opened (on time, at 06:30) and the time it closed at 07:51, people and cars crossed in both directions, including the teachers’ bus, which returned to Habla a few minutes later carrying pupils.

At 07:52 a car arrived from Habla.  A man emerges, hurries to the closing gate, and asks to be let through.  “Everything’s closed,” says the soldier.  He keeps asking and she finishes shutting down while imparting a lesson:  “Show up on time!”