Qalandiya - Long queues at 6am disappeared half an hour later
We returned to Qalandiya after a long break, first because of the omicron wave in which we avoided going on shifts, and then because of personal health problems. We continue to park on the Palestinian side because due to the works on the Israeli side there is no place to park there.
Abu Ramzi, the pretzel seller, was standing with his grandson at the entrance to the checkpoint compound. He was very downcast as he told us the bitter news of his wife's death. He also faces a bill of several thousand shekels that he now owes the hospital. We expressed our condolences and stayed by his side a little longer. He says he no longer has the strength and desire to work, but must make a living. Under these circumstances it is good that his daughter and children live with him and will take care of him. The kiosk was still closed, but the food stand is active ,and falafel and chips are fried there in the morning.
About 6 o'clock we approached the checkpoint compound and discovered that there were very long queues and the pace of progress was very slow. After a short time one of the queues collapsed. As soon as they opened the carousel at the end of the slalom people started pushing and shouting, and young people jumped over fences to advance in line. We made our way from where we stood at the bottom of the stairs between the people waiting in the other two queues to take pictures. The sights reminded us of sights and sounds we had already forgotten, from the days of the old checkpoint. By the time we got closer most of the uproar had subsided. You can see in the video the end of the uproar, and hear a guy say to his friends "Hukok al-ansan biswaro" (= Human rights people are taking pictures). They encourage us to take pictures and report on what is happening.
You can see the long lines stretching already outside the shed. We also filmed videos showing the situation (they will be sent separately). Fortunately, the collapse of one line at the entrance to the slalom did not affect the other 2 line, and even in that first line shortly after the entrance to the slalom the order was maintained. So very quickly everything went back to normal. That is, long lines dragged on and people complained that this has been the case lately. The reason allegedly is a shortage of soldiers who will operate the checkpoints. We decided to wait at least until 7, hoping that by then the queues would be over.
But surprisingly around six-thirty all three queues suddenly started to move forward and soon the queues were over. Apparently at six-thirty the morning shift arrives and more positions are staffed. Luckily around 6:40 all ended outside. Probably there were many waiting inside, inside the building, before the staions there, manned by soldiers.
We waited until 6:50 to make sure the queues did not accumulate again and then we moved on. Inside were five (out of six) positions open,and the queues progressed rapidly. We had an opportunity to see how to behave if one has a pacemaker and can't go through a magnetometer. The soldier explained that they would call a security guard to come and move her through the magnetometer. We waited on the sidelines while the Palestinians continued to pass without delay. After a short time a security guard did arrive and when he saw the required document he disconnected the magnetometer and switched it to the inactive position. ["Short" for a one-time experience, but it must be very irritating to have to do this routinely.] In the meantime he learned from Chana who we are and what we are doing here ... I passed in parallel with the objects in the nearby position through the magnetometer and mirroring the objects. We met beyond the turnstiles, and passed the checkpoint without delay. Overall, despite waiting for the security guard, it took us less than a quarter of an hour to get from end to end.
We got on the pedestrian bridge to check on the condition of the works.
Looking south we saw the works. Looking west you can see the new bus parking lot that has been built and is already functioning. The active bus stops were moved slightly north.
We got off the bridge and moved back to the Palestinian side to get back to the vehicle. The kiosk has meanwhile opened. We drove through Hizme. Last time the Jaba checkpoint was manned and the road was very bumpy so it was not really possible to cross using two lanes. Most of the cars (and we too) avoided the right lane and all slowed down greatly when crossing. This time the checkpoint was unmanned and the section of the road was re-paved so that there was no delay. The road to the Hizme crossing was also open and without traffic jams, much to our relief.