The line is unusually long for this checkpoint, reaching as far as the shelter. The outside turnstiles open once every few minutes, dozens are swallowed inside, and a new line forms immediately. One turnstile for men, two for women and children.
Inside the lines are very long, it's crowded but quiet and orderly. Three corridors are open. The children's line grows increasingly longer, several dozen at any given moment.
Inside the turnstiles the light changes form green to red intermittently, regardless of the opening/shutting of the turnstile. People are practised, they cross one by one, remove their belts, place their belongings to be x-rayed. On the other side of the glass sit two female soldiers but only one of them glances at the documents from time to time. If the other were to check simultaneously, the waiting time would be cut by half.
It took me 20 minutes to cross.
People in the line mentioned that they had come from the Bethlehem 300 where it was a difficult morning.
Wadi Nar
Traffic flows unimpeded. Construction in Kedar is progressing rapidly.
Az-Za'ayyem
We had a phone call to alert us that there were harrassments, some verging on the sexual. When we arrived at 8:00 most of the minibuses had crossed and we noticed nothing unusual.