Habla

Habla

6:00 

People are waiting next to the closed checkpoint.  Still no soldiers.

6:08

A vehicle with soldiers arrives.

6:17

The first group of 5 is in the inspection booth.  This is one of those days when we have to remind ourselves that also the ordinary events and the "gestures" towards the Palestinians are part of the occupation and strengthen Israel's grasp on the area.  Obviously, when you talk about every person who is relatively free it is the peak of humanism from the standpoint of the occupation towards the occupation:  A Palestinian who is sick with cancer is allowed to stay in his vehicle and someone else gets out of the vehicle and completes the inspection procedure for him.

7:10 

According to the order of one of the officers here a lane has been opened for a hands-on inspection.

7:30

There are still people waiting to go out to the nurseries and fields.  The glove compartments of cars and the tool box in a tractor are opened and inspected.  As "desert", a youth arrives with sunglasses, ear phones around his neck - a "contemporary' look for a young man.  He is asked to remove his sunglasses, interrogated and given a physical inspection;  only after the soldier is completely satisfied can he go on his way.

7:42

No more people waiting and the checkpoint closes.