'Anata, Thu 28.5.09, Morning

ANATA   7:10

We saw many children going through the turnstyle, then crossing the road. It is a very dangerous situation as the cars were driven by drivers anxious to hurry to work. There is a passageway across the road  which, according to a border policeman, is used for pedestrians entering Anata and not requiring a security check.  While we were there, we did not see anyone using this pedestrian crosswalk. When we asked why there was no safe passage for the children closer to the buses, he responded that it was  an issue for the city authorities, not the military.

Cars were randomly checked and drivers as well as passengers identity papers were checked. 

We tried driving to Qalandiya through Lill but were politely turned back, even after the soldier made a phone call to ask for permission.

We then drove via Atarot but found ourselves in a long traffic jam on the way to the checkpoint.  We reluctantly turned around as it would have taken us more time to reach the checkpoint than we had available.   The experience, however, did remind us about how very frustrating it must be to the villagers in the area who must go through Atarot to get to Qalandiya, a short distance away. 

There must be a more efficient way to get the traffic through this checkpoint.