Qalandiya

09:00 A couple with a 16 years old daughter approached us explaining that they are escorting their daughter to the American consulate to renew her American passport. The parents, over 55 years old, were not allowed to cross. The person on the spot from "Modiin Ezrachi" (a private security company) told us that the parents were denied entrance by the Home Security Service and that they have to get a permit from the DCO of their area – Nablus. They left the place stunned and disappointed while we were left with shame, hoping that their "sign" will be removed.

A group of about 20 people were waiting near the humanitarian gate. A woman soldier told us that they have to be checked and that she is "following the rules". The gate opened at 9:10 and everybody crossed.

Until 9:20 the line got longer although all the inner entrances were open. The security person and the soldiers disappeared which caused a delay at the inner entrances. At 9:30 the loudspeaker announced, this time for a change it was clear, that all inner entrances are open. Indeed, some improvement occurred. However, since within a few minutes the line grew long again, we contacted the DCO informing them that no soldiers or security people are in place. The officer promised to check the matter and within 10 minutes, half of the people waiting entered.

We pointed to the soldier in the post a woman with a walking stick who had difficulty in walking. He said he cannot take a decision and has to ask his superiors. After few minutes he informed that soldiers are on their way. At 9:45 the woman crossed through the regular gate. At 10:00 the security person arrived and we told him that the woman with the walking stick and another elderly man crossed already through the regular line. Another rather old man was not allowed to cross claiming he is denied entrance by the Home Security Office. The security person says: "I don't care if the man crosses or not. He, or somebody from his family, might have been involved in a terrorist action. I follow the rules of the Home Security. We asked him about the dirt around and he said that the Palestinians are responsible for cleaning the place and they do it during the week but not on Fridays.

Same as last year, during spring, we encountered the problem of permits for trips. People, usually in groups, get permit for a day trip but they are not told from which entrance or checkpoint they should cross. This detail is not specified in the permit and when they arrive at the checkpoint the soldiers are not letting them pass, claiming they have to do it through another passage or checkpoint. We wonder if the authority issuing the permits is aware of the problem, is it a matter of negligence, lack of coordination, or another reason.

This time we were approached by a group from Nablus which arrived by bus with a permit for 16 hours. They planned to visit the old city (Jerusalem) and pray in El Akza. The security man said that they should have gone through Chashmonaim checkpoint and not through Kalandia, but the permits didn't specify that and nobody gave them information on the matter. The security person insisted but the people said that the bus left them at the checkpoint and drove away. The soldier said that the older people could cross without a permit but the young people have to go through Chashmonaim checkpoint and nothing can be done about it. We explained the situation to the trippers and gave them instructions how to get to Chashmonaim checkpoint.

We asked the security person to inform the DCO about the problem and to indicate that in fact we have encountered this problem many times last year. We must point out that the security person was fluent in Arabic and did try to help whoever approached him.

10:30 the line grew long again and reached the benches. A long line was also near the humanitarian gate. We noticed an old man begging the soldiers to go through but he was denied.

The humanitarian gate opened for few minutes, but after being closed, a group of people were left out. Most of them moved to the regular line.

10:45 A very old lady with a walking stick, having much difficulty in walking, arrived at the gate. The soldier at the post claimed he called the security person and suggested that in the meantime the old lady will sit on one of the benches, and so she did. After few minutes she moved to the regular line.