'Anata, Qalandiya, Sun 18.5.08, Morning
7.00 Anata - As
usual many children cross the road between the numerous cars. Next to the car
lane about 8 checkers. Soldiers, private guards. The passage is quite
quick and without arguments. Mainly there are children and there is no pressure.
This is the first time that young boys have said a cheerful good morning to us
of their own accord.7.45 Qalandiya - There
is not a long line of people in the waiting area but there is still great
pressure and much pushing. One turnstile is broken and the passage through the
two others work slowly. The 'humanitarian" line …doctors, women, elderly men and
students argue with the captain who eventually lets them pass. Immediately a new
line forms. I. who commands the passage stands
in the inside area and comes up and speaks to us. He says that there will be a
new solution which will bring about a shortening of the period that people will
have to stand in line. It seems that there will be two extra lanes for people
going out in the vans. He says that the length of time of the passage from the
inner turnstile to the checking area is not more than 20 minutes. We checked
when the line was long together with him and he was correct.. He agrees with us
however that the passage is unpleasant even if it only takes 20 minutes. All the
more so because the humanitarian line closes at 8.00 and then the women have to
crowd in with the men which is not acceptable. While we were there he still
allowed women to pass after 8.00 and by 8.45 the line had shortened and then the
women could go through with the men.About 9.00 the DCO
opens and 5 people were let through. For the next 10 minutes no one was allowed
to enter. People were waiting to go both to the post and to the DCO. We phoned
the DCO asking them to open. We were told that people could go through to the
post through all the turnstiles and so we informed them but not long after they
returned saying that they could only go through the turnstile to the DCO. After
another phone call the turnstile at last allows people in while a voice screams
"One at a time." By 9.45 nearly everyone has gone in but in the shed of the DCO
many people are waiting. They have been told that the computer is not working.
What? Again? Every time?One small success we
had today. A man comes to us and says that his mother who has cancer has to have
treatment at Makassad hospital. Each time he is told to go, to bring. to come
back. We speak to Mayer of the medical department of the army and he in all
seriousness says to us that the woman is registered as a security risk…but he
will get her a permit in spite of this. 15 minutes later the man phones and says
that the computer is not working. So what else is new? 30 minutes later he says
he has the permit.