'Azzun 'Atma, Thu 17.6.10, Morning
Translation: Suzanne O.
Azun Atma
6:20 a.m.
Since last month when there was hardly any queue at all here, this time there was a large number of Palestinians crowded in the netted sleeve
. There is, however, not an unbearable number but still a considerable queue.
According to the soldiers (male and female) here, it is all a question of timing. If a lot of labourers arrive at the same time there is crowding and later it drops off.
They told us that there are three soldiers in the checkpoint, looking at two computers, and they try to get people through as quickly as they can. In cases where a Palestinian has a magnetic card it is, obviously, quicker.
6:25 a.m.
A labourer from the quarry comes from across the road to get back to the village. A soldier approaches the netted gate and lets him cross without squashing in with those standing in the queue. (We have been on shifts when they were not prepared to open the gate.)