Qalandiya

05.30. Three long lines extended to the far end of the (still blocked-to-traffic) car park.  4 of the 5 checking stations were open, though during our watch the fifth one opened.  There were very few people standing at the checking stations, though.  We found this was caused by the infrequent opening of the turnstiles on the part of the soldier in the aquarium.  Either because she was tired at the end of her duty, or because she was too engrossed in her smartphone, she would open the turnstiles only every 10 minutes and, for some reason, would release only one column of people waiting at a time.

06.00. The situation improved when a replacement soldier took over.  At 6.09, a D.C.O. officer arrived, accompanied by a guard.  Almost immediately he started opening the humanitarian gate.  This he did frequently, so that there were never more than 2 or 3 people waiting.

A woman from Jenin came to visit her mother at Hadassah hospital, but as she had no permit was told to wait until 8 o’clock.  She was naturally disappointed, but seemingly not resentful.

An older man (not the one who usually approaches us!) complained about not being allowed to pass before 8 o’clock.  We have been told that this rule is to speed the passages of younger people who are in a hurry to work (although we are told that at other checkpoints with at least equal pressure, older folk without permits are allowed through earlier). However, this man complained that even when the place was almost empty he was not allowed through merely 5 minutes before 8 o’clock).

By 7.30 the lines were short.  We joined one and passed through within a few minutes.