Qalandiya, Fri 19.4.13, Morning
Translator: Charles K.
We reached the checkpoint at 09:00; it was fairly empty. A few people arrived every few minutes and crossed quickly. Only one outer gate was open. After about ten minutes a line, not very long, had formed there. A man who’d come through the checkpoint said that two weeks ago only people going to pray had received crossing permits; no work permits were given.
The place was dirty, as usual. In the background we could hear loud announcements over the loudspeakers, jarring and difficult to understand. At 09:15 about 25 people had crowded at the entrance. We tried asking the female soldier seated in the booth why they didn’t open an additional entrance but didn’t receive an answer. We telephoned the DCO and asked them to open an additional lane. We were told they’d take care of it. A few minutes later an additional lane opened.
At 09:30 a line of about 25 people had again formed at the entrance but they went through quickly.
Itamar decided to try going through from the revolving gates
to the inspection station – despite passing quickly through the surprisingly narrow passageway of the forward revolving gate he was stuck within for half an hour before getting past the inspection, describing the way things were run as “unfocused.” Marina crossed after him a little more quickly.
The newcomers who accompanied us reminded us how evil and surreal it all is. We, the “veterans,” arrived and “happily” exclaimed, “Wow, great – it’s not crowded today…” As if this was a site visit by organizational consultants satisfied at the efficient operation of the checkpoint… The others, still fresh, were shocked.
When we went through the vehicle checkpoint on the way back the female soldier didn’t ask this time, “Are you Jewish?” Miracles happen.