Qalandiya

Hardly Anyone Came

All five checking stations were open when we arrived at 5:30 and there were no lines at all, because each new arrival passed through the left “cage” and directly through its open turnstile – which remained open throughout the shift. There were also hardly any lines at the entrances to the checking stations.  Whether or not this coveted situation was related to Tisha B’Av cannot be determined. The begele seller told us that on the previous day, the lines had been very long.

The Humanitarian Gate was not opened; no one even bothered to approach it.

At 7:00 we passed through the cage and were out of the checking station in less than 10 minutes.

Upon returning to Route 443, we saw earth-moving equipment at work, evidently to pave a new road or to widen Route 45. It isn’t exactly clear whom this new road (which will hook up with Route 60?) will serve.