Qalandiya, Shuafat

Qalandiya, Shuafat, June 1, 2007, FridayObservers: Hanna B. Tamar A. (reporting),Guest: Gabi P., German journalist8:30-11:158:50 - Machsom Ar-RamLittle traffic, the gate of the southern wall is open and through it you can get directly to the road which leads along the western wall to Qalandia. 9:10-09:55 - Machsom QalandiyaLittle traffic, no queues, because there are so few people, only one of the carousels is open. A number of people got confused and stood in front of a locked carousel, until they understood they had to go to a different one.A man with a tray filled with bread which is too big to pass through the carousel knows how to manage. He sets the tray down on top of the upper pole of the gate (the “humanitarian gate”) goes through the carousel and takes down the tray.10:00 - Machsom Lil (“Jaba”)Line of 4 cars in the direction of Ramallah. 10:10 - Machsom HizmaLittle traffic10:20-11:00 - Machsom ShuafatLittle traffic in general. Bus full of children and women is inspected within a few minutes, and in short time a line of 10 cars forms and can go as soon as the bus is allowed to continue. The East Jerusalem minibuses pass through on a side road. Soldiers check the ID’s of the passengers.At this checkpoint people who do not have permits still try to get through and convince the soldiers to let them through. An elderly man leaning on a cane accompanied by his wife, has a permit for medical care at the hospital but it has expired. After some discussion, the commander in charge lets them through. Two other elderly people were not as lucky. One woman waits for half an hour in the shade hoping the soldiers will let her through, but in the end she gives up. Work has begun on the new crossing – another upgraded terminal. In the meantime, there is a confusing maze of fences which creates fenced in areas which look like cages. A passerby comments to us “You see the prisons they are building for us; the Israelis look down on us and we only see their feet.” Another passerby says “the situation is bad. They are building the new crossing and will only let the residents of Shuafat pass.” The residents of Anata [northeast of Mt. Scopus] will have to pass via Qalandia or Abu Dis, a far longer route.