We have the privilege of getting up when we choose, leave home and return when we feel like doing so, drive where we wish.  This isn’t true for the Palestinians who rise in the dark and cold before dawn, come to Israeli localities both to the east and to the west of the Green Line in order to build a state for the Jews, to work the land for the Jews, to clean their streets.

5:44 – Eyal

At this hour it’s no longer as crowded in the space outside the fenced and barricaded facility, but it’s cold and groups of men warm themselves at fires scattered around the area, waiting for their employers to pick them up for work.

We went to see the people on line coming from Qalqilya.  We didn’t hang around there because we saw that although people keep arriving they’re moving quickly and without delay to the entrance (later one of those leaving the facility told us that there are people keeping order on the Palestinian side, and he’s one of them).

On our way back to the entrance three people came toward us, two security personnel and the facility’s manager.  We “benefitted” from being yelled at and warned, in particular that we were “destroying the excellent cooperation we’ve had during the past year.”  And if we again go to see what’s happening at the entry to the checkpoint they’ll call the police and “file a criminal complaint.”

People are kneeling for the morning prayer next to the fence near the revolving gate at the exit.  The manager rebukes them for not praying under the canopy that he set up specially for them.

This is the first time we’ve seen an armed guard at the exit from the facility – that is, after people went through the entire inspection and were “certified.”  Certification includes, for example, removing belts.

A man approached before we left asking us to help his son overturn the refusal to allow him to obtain a work permit in Israel.  We gave him Sylvia’s phone number.

6:20

  We left.

6:27  –

Zufin.  We drove by but didn’t stop because there was nobody at the checkpoint other than police and soldiers.  Apparently the rain that had been predicted kept the farmers home, as well as the Palestinian workers building Zufin.

6:31 –

Eliyahu crossing.  People still arrive in dribs and drabs to cross for work in the settlements.  They are orderly.  There’s a revolving gate between the inspection room and those waiting (numbering about 30 at this hour).  Three wait next to it until those in the inspection room have exited.  They wait next to the revolving gate for about one minute.

6:40 –

Habla.  People gather near the gate. 

6:59 –

It’s opened.  Five people at a time are allowed through. 

7:06 –

The first five come out.

7:40  We left.