Qalandiya, Shuafat

Qalandiya, Shuafat, Thursday morning, 2.11.2006Observers: Mili M. Tamar A., Natanya translating6.30 - Ar-Ram is empty.6.35 – 7.00, Checkpoint of Qalandiya 20 – 30 cars when we arrived and up to 40 when we left.50 people at the turnstiles in three lines and this before the outside turnstile. Every three minutes all were allowed to pass and new lines formed quickly, and each time this turnstile opens they run to the checking area, and when the turnstile closes people are caught inside. The first time a young man and the second a small boy whose friends had managed to pass and wait for him passing the time joking and laughing. About 6.50 there are less people, then 30, then 20 and at 7.00 no line at the outside turnstile. Checking posts 1, 3 and 4 are open and later number 2 also so the passage is quite fast. There was no use of the loudspeaker except to say which turnstiles were open and sometimes “Leave”. 3 men who were not allowed to pass go back.7.10 - Lil is unmanned and at Hizma there are two lanes and little movement.7.35 – 8.10, Shuafat checkpoint. At the parking area before the checkpoint many pupils wait for their transport. Both pedestrians and traffic pass steadily. A private car with the back packed with cartons is now allowed through. 2 soldiers standing in the road hardly check the cars, and on a hill above them is another soldier with pointed weapon guarding them. Next to the pedestrian passage are three soldiers and also a police van and 4 men with protective vests , yellow and written on the back P. They are making some sort of notes. One sits comfortable on a chair at the side, one stands next to the soldiers at the pedestrian path. We were told it was dangerous for us to stand there as a minibus could knock us over. We tried to find out what the P stood for, and who these people were, and one of the soldiers first said he did not know, and then that he did not want to tell us. The man on the chair said they were counting the people, and that the P is for a company in Ramat Gan. We asked why they were counting them, and he said he did not speak Hebrew well. A blue policeman is not permanently there and does not know who these people are. The commander says they want to build a new checkpoint, and therefore are counting the people. He also does not know what this P is. On the internet we found the web of the company with ease. Its activities include: Electronic signs which includes those at Ben Gurion airport, parking, a network of traffic and control, surveys of movement of people. About 8.00 little traffic and only those who are late for school are going through.