Qalandiya - A ray of light in the dark, gloomy shed

05.15. On the Israeli side of the checkpoint there was an unusually large group of men at prayer.  When we entered the shed we saw that the lines were very short. Presumably people had passed through too early for their transport and so had time to perform their morning prayer while waiting.

Four checking stations were open.  Station no.5 opened a while later, but then shut again. The D.C.O. officer arrived at 6.15 to open the humanitarian gate. Previously, a couple of women had joined the regular line. The generally polite officer approached us to greet us, and explained that the x-ray machine at no.5 had broken down.

By now the lines were getting somewhat longer, extending a bit beyond the shed.  A policeman and policewoman arrived, with a guard.  Suddenly we heard them shouting towards the queues waiting at the four functioning checkpoints. We then realized that they were telling them that those without packages could use station no.5.

Not only that, but then they and the D.C O. officer told people in the regular lines that anyone without baggage could go via the humanitarian gate(!!) to checking station 5. We thought this might make conditions difficult for women as they arrived – they could, of course, go with packages to any of the other stations – but the men always let them through first.  This is the first time we have come across such innovative thinking at Qalandiya! [It may have helped that it was station no.5 that was involved – this is the one closest to the humanitarian gate.]

While we were there one man in the general queue seemed to be ill, with fever. A friend took him to a bench.  Natanya, always well stocked for an emergency, gave him Acomol, and they went home.

At 6.50 we joined a line and were quickly through.