Hashmonaim (Ni'ilin)

Today, Friday, on the way to the demonstration in Bil’in, we went through the Ni’ilin checkpoint (Hashmonaim) around noon.  Opposite us, to the north, a huge line of cars sat there, being rigorously inspected.  There was no longer a line when we returned, but each car was detained, and they listened carefully to our accent.  Is this something new?  We haven’t been here for a few months.  Prior to the “intifada of knives” we hadn’t seen such lines at the crossing.