Bethlehem (300)

   :Bethlehem- 6:45 am

Smiles greet us. "A good day".  Five checking stations open.  Ten to fifteen people in each line, but by 7:00 am everyone has passed. Y, Matak soldier is present.  Several Palestinians greet him, one saying, when he is present, all is well.  A pleasure to report good things!

We did see something new to us. There was an accumulation of men, about forty or more standing in the back, waiting to pass. At 7:00 am, only, are they allowed because they are "soharim", not "poalim", who are given preference. Y says this has been in force since the first of the month.

17.00 ---  13.30  

Etzion DCO

In the parking lot there are 8 Palestinian cars and 2 Israeli ones. The big waiting hall is empty. Some Palestinians, who were waiting outside for friends, were telling us, that inside the building - not visible to us –is  a second smaller waiting room. There was a group of young men from Bethlehem, who had to wait there for Shabak who wanted to examine them. .

After a while they came out, telling us, that one of them got a new summons for the 26 of January. All the others were released with the remark:" in case we need you, we will let you know."

Meanwhile two more men had arrived. One was  a Palestinian, who had emigrated to Chile, now just visiting his parents. He wanted to apply for  a permit concerning his father, who needed treatment  in Hadassa hospital.

The other man came for a magnetic card for himself. Both had to wait for some time, because no soldier was available for more than half an hour. Ch. had to phone twice until a soldier came.

Checkpoint Har Homa

Traffic was sparse. We could pass without being checked..

Checkpoint Bethlehem

We arrived at 16.30. Palestinians were returning home in small groups. Only in one counter is open with a not very friendly female soldier, who was sending back a father with his young son. We could not see why. It seemed that his permit was not in order.

7.00 am, Bethlehem:  quite a lot of activity in spite of the rain, cold and, as we were to discover later, the almost impenetrable fog on the road south. People told us that passage through the checkpoint was quick because there were fewer people than usual owing to the weather.

At the checkpoint itself a man showed us a woman with three children who were not being allowed through. One of the children did not have a permit. I should point out that this was at a side post, where there was no other activity, so we were not interrupting any soldier’s work.  As we approached her to see what exactly was the matter (she was due to go with them to a hospital) a military policewoman – an officer and, according to her, the commanding officer of the place - came and told us to move back to the wall as it was a ‘closed military area.’  We pointed out that this was not so or, if so, she should show us the printed order.  She physically pushed Chaya away and to the wall.  While we were arguing the point, first a Civilian Administration officer came out and was non-committal, though seemed to agree that we had a point but the soldier was adamant – and all the time physically stopped us from getting near the post.  Finally a policewoman came and she and the soldier went away into their quarters. The policewoman seemed to be more understanding.  (Hopefully, she may have taught the soldier the correct procedure.  But how do you undo years of brutalizing education?)  By this time, the woman with her children had, of course, vanished so we could not help her – but we will lodge a complaint.

7.50 am. Entrance to El Khadr:  a pre-arranged meeting on behalf of Sylvia – signing of power of attorney and payment.

8.08  am.  Etzion DCL: Eight men were waiting outside as the office opened.  They continued to wait until we suggested that they go inside.  Apparently they are so used to being given orders (and assigned numbers) that they were reluctant to go in on their own – in spite of having waited in the freezing cold.

8.40 am. Beit Ummar: a ‘no show’ – probably on account of the weather.  A man approached us with a police traffic report.  As it was still within in its valid period, he was advised simply to pay the fine.

Entrance to Halhul: as arranged, we returned papers to a man who was refused  a permit, whom our lawyer felt he was unable to help. The man decided to try another lawyer.

9.00 am.We had a pre-arranged meeting on behalf of Sylvia – signing of power of attorney and payment.

A few phone-calls came in – people asking for progress reports on their cases, or new cases of refused permits.

14.00 till 16.00

Etzion DCO

Arrival 15.10, Three  and  later 5 Palestinian cars were in the parking lot. Inside the (ice cold)

waiting hall 3 people  are waiting in front of the turnstyle, which is  separate from the counter with the soldier on duty.

But the soldier on duty was not there. The people waiting - a Christian mother with her daughter from Talitha Kumi and a man - told us that they have been waiting for about. half an hour. H. immediately notified the Superior in charge , and the soldier appeared the next minute, very polite and friendly.

The mother from Talitha did not tell me what she wanted. We spoke about Talitha, and she said that she had all the documents she needed to go to Jerusalem whenever she had something  to do there.

The man was there to apply for a permit to allow him to accompany his mother on the 10th of January to the hospital  Augusta  Victoria on the mount of Olives. She is being treated for back problems. One travel document was missing. Somebody had to bring it from Bethlehem. So he had to wait, but he was optimistic that he would get the correct permit. 

The soldier left, but returned after H's phone call in order to take care of the case of a young father who needed  a special permit for an ambulance driver to take him and two of his children to Jordan for treatment of the children in a special clinic. There was one document missing, but he too was confident that he would make the trip.

Har Homa checkpoint .

There were 3 cars  waiting ahead of us. One was superfically checked  ( 1 minute lifting the door of the trunk), the others , including us, could just pass.

After this we left, because Avital had urgent work to do.

   14:00-16.30

Etzion DCO

In the parking place there  were seven Palestinian cars; nobody is in the waiting hall. So,  all the occupants of the cars must be in the offices with the soldiers. There was nobody else around. So we left.

 Bethlehem

We arrived about 16.00. Most of the people on their way home could pass without any control . If there was a check   at the exit of the huge checkpoint we don't know, because until now we are not permitted to enter the checkpoint.

On our side only one counter was occupied. The soldier who was sitting in it was checking only foreigners on their way to Jerusalem.

Everything  was flowing fast.