Qalandiya

05.15. This week there was not as much filth as previously, but discarded fruit and vegetable cartons were piled at the edge of the shed. The beigel seller was present, the kiosk open, as well as the counter selling cakes at 1 shekel each.

When we arrived there were hardly queues and everyone entered at each opening of the turnstiles. As the lines got longer, the soldier in the aquarium allowed large groups in, causing quite long lines at each checking station. In the shed itself conditions were relatively reasonable, lines not extending beyond it.

This time, too, there is an innovation: the fences that border the area from which our forces arrive (which is usually closed to Palestinians) have been covered with green material and one cannot see what is happening behind them. It seems they have also covered the gate through which the soldiers, guards and police enter. We wondered where they would come from. Then we saw a new opening in another spot, and, indeed after 6 o’clock through it appeared a policeman and a soldier to replace the one in the aquarium.

The policeman made preparations for opening the humanitarian gate, but told the people waiting there that he would not be opening it meanwhile. While waiting, we chatted with two school teachers (counted as worthy of using the humanitarian gate), who told us that their school year was beginning today. When we talked about smoking in Palestinian society (they had complained about the smell of smoking in the shed), one said that in his school smoking was forbidden in all areas, and it was forbidden to bring in sweetened drinks or sweets. At about 6.15 the D.C.O. officer and guard arrived and began to open the humanitarian gate. Later, the officer – a fluent Arabic speaker – approached the sleeves (cages) and chatted with people waiting in line, while the policeman continued operating the humanitarian gate, assisted by the guard.

We went outside, and entered the open gate in the white fence that surrounds the outside of the checkpoint, but there is still no sign of building activity there. On our return the lines were still of a reasonable length. Apparently at one of the checking stations the inspection machine was out of order and the soldier repeatedly announced that this station was open only for those without bags and cases.

At about 7 o’clock we joined a line and passed through in 20 minutes. Today, too, the entrance to the slalom is blocked, and people go directly from the turnstiles to the checking stations. [It would be interesting to know if this is to be a permanent arrangement and, if so, why the authorities changed their minds.]

יצאנו לראות מה המצב בחוץ. נכנסנו גם הפעם דרך השער הפתוח בגדר הלבנה מפח שנמתחה מסביב למבנה המחסום מבחוץ ועדיין לא נראה שהתבצע בינוי כלשהו. קנינו כוס תה בקיוסק ששב לפעול זה מכבר וחזרנו פנימה. מצב התורים היה סביר במשך כל זמן שהותנו. באחת העמדות מכונת השיקוף ככל הנראה מקולקלת, והחייל מודיע כל פעם ברמקול שלעמדה זו יש לגשת רק ללא שקיות ותיקים.

בסביבות שבע הצטרפנו לתור ועברנו תוך כ-20 דקות. גם היום הכניסה לסלאלום חסומה והולכים מהקרוסלות שבקצה המכלאות ישירות לעמדות הבידוק, כמו לפני שהיו גדרות הסלאלום במקום.