Abu Dis, Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal), Sheikh Saed, Wed 13.5.09, Morning

Traffic flowing.  Selective manual registration takes place ('for whoever we decide' said the company commander who happened to be present).  From what we observed, the commander checked expediently, exercising good judgement, we thought, when necessary.

We crossed the checkpoint eastward.  Two corridors were open, traffic flowing.  We learned from people at the checkpoint that since the opening at 5 a.m. there had been a larger than usual number of persons crossing, due to the Pope's visit and the blocking of the Rachel Crossing, and it appeared that the checkpoint had prepared for that. Two persons we spoke to separately told us that despite the large numbers of people lines were not long, and that four corridors had been open around 5 a.m. to deal with pressure.