'Azzun 'Atma, Thu 14.1.10, Morning

'Azzun 'Atma

  06:20 As usual recently, there are two waiting lines:  one in the fenced "sleeve" opposite the Military Police in the booth opposite the computer, and the second opposite the screened gate. As we arrived the soldiers were getting organized and registered on a piece of paper by the soldier in the shed.  The shed has been upgraded, protected by conspicuous bags of sand.  There are still no covered places for those waiting in line. The checkpoint commander was very tense;  constantly re-arranging the area.  First he put a wire cord in place to indicate where the workers were allowed to wait until the registrar finished his work.  As for us, he did not allow us to stand between the screen gate and the wire cord.  He had a lot of explanations:  it is a sterile area; I am concerned for your safety; and the final reason - you are disturbing our work! Three children of school age try to leave the village.  The female soldier allows them to come up to the booth without waiting, a kind of humanitarian line.  However, two of them are sent back home.  It happens that today is the beginning of the semester break in the schools and they wanted to help with the family income.  The soldiers didn't want to explain to us why it was forbidden for them to leave, since in fact they were too young to even have IDs or work permits.  We called the DCO in Qalqilya and they promised to check. A young man was wating next to the stand.  He said that he is inspected every day and goes through every day.  But so far today he was held back.  We waited for half an hour with him.  The soldiers didn't volunteer any information.  They suggested to him that he either wait or go home. According to one of the soldiers there are renovations planned here and, until then, things will remain as they are.

Just wait - before long they will bring over here the huge construction standing empty at the edge of Huwarra...