Habla

06:10  Soldiers already at the checkpoint but it’s not yet open.

06:20 The first five people exit.

07:14  The teachers’ bus comes from Habla, without any delays.

07:27  The school bus enters Habla, without any delays.

07:41  The checkpoint closes after everyone waiting on both sides went through and continued on their way. 

This brief report does not show fully the reality of life under occupation. For example, to what extent the mood of those going through the checkpoint depends on the soldiers operating it.  A bit of the reality of life under occupation is revealed in conversations with people like A., about how vulnerable a person is trying to preserve his land but likely to be threatened at any moment; about brief moments of hope when the Oslo Accords were signed, hope that had quickly faded. “The Oslo Accords spoke of establishing a university in Qalqilya.  But what did we get? A wall and a fence.”