Etzion DCL
24/01/2012 ,Afternoon
Yael L., -J (reporting), Channah St., Avital F.(driver)
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.
23/01/2012 ,Morning
Chaya O., Chana S. (reporting)
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.
17/01/2012 ,Afternoon
Yael L.-J., Avital F., Chana S. (reporting)
14.45 pm. Etzion DCL: two men were waiting at the carousel, but no soldier at the window. We phoned and soon a soldier came and admitted them, then disappeared. This happened a few times- each time we phoned – and caused some mutual irritation!
One man from Bethlehem came for a magnetic card. The soldier would not admit him as it was not the right day (the man said he had already tried the previous day) and that the room upstairs was full and they had to complete service there by 5 o’clock. According to him, admittance was until 4 o’clock because of the crowd upstairs. (By the way, this did not jibe with what people coming out told us – they said there were very few people waiting upstairs.) On the other hand, he said that he would be on duty the next morning and promised to admit the man then.
Another man rushed in excitedly with a form (from a hospital?), saying he had to accompany his wife(?) but, as far as we could understand, had difficulties with Security. We suggested that he go upstairs and, if he did not receive a permit, we would try making phone calls. He disappeared inside but we did not see him again.
A young man came to the police as he has a long overdue traffic fine. There was no policeman on duty, it being ‘after-hours.’ We advised him to check in the morning that a policeman was on duty. We also gave him Chaya’s phone number in case Machsomwatch could help him to negotiate the fine. (No doubt we will be meeting him on our rounds on Monday morning!).
A doctor came out together with a young man. The doctor was upset and indignant. The young man’s mother was due to have serious surgery on Thursday. As a doctor, he was given an entry permit but he felt the soldiers thought he was ‘joking’ [his word] about his companion. Fortunately, we managed to make contact with the representative of the health humanitarian authority to whom he could give details, in Arabic. She said she would clarify and would call back to him. As we were about to leave, we gave him her phone number in case she did not reply soon, as well as the phone number of Physicians for Human Rights.
10/01/2012 ,Afternoon
Yael Lavi-Jenner, (reporting), Hannah St. Avital F. (driver)
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.
09/01/2012 ,Morning
Chaya O., Chana S. (reporting)
7.00 am. Bethlehem: two stations were open, with a few people in line. Everyone told us that conditions were good this morning.
7.30 am. Entrance to El Khadr: a man from El Arub who owes an overdue fine was advised to go to Etzion DCL.
8.08 am. Etzion DCL: no cars, but about 20 men were entering the building which apparently had just opened. They were admitted quite soon. Most came for magnetic cards but two were for the police. They did not know why they were refused entry. The policeman said the computer was down just at that moment but he would get back to us with the answers, so we kept in touch with the two men. It turned out that one was not refused by the police, so probably by Security. The other was completely clear! Was it just an arbitrary act on the part of a soldier at a checkpoint?
8.40 Beit Ummar: a prearranged meeting to collect documents
7.30 am. Entrance to El Khadr: a man from El Arub who owes an overdue fine was advised to go to Etzion DCL.
8.08 am. Etzion DCL: no cars, but about 20 men were entering the building which apparently had just opened. They were admitted quite soon. Most came for magnetic cards but two were for the police. They did not know why they were refused entry. The policeman said the computer was down just at that moment but he would get back to us with the answers, so we kept in touch with the two men. It turned out that one was not refused by the police, so probably by Security. The other was completely clear! Was it just an arbitrary act on the part of a soldier at a checkpoint?
8.40 Beit Ummar: a prearranged meeting to collect documents
9.00 am. Halhul – northern entrance: a man about payment of an old traffic fine.
9.15 am. Nabi Yunis: a prearranged meeting for signing of power of attorney and payment. We referred to Sylvia a man refused entry by Security.
9.15 am. Nabi Yunis: a prearranged meeting for signing of power of attorney and payment. We referred to Sylvia a man refused entry by Security.
During the morning we had two cases of men who had been given provisional sentences by the Court, and could not understand why they were nevertheless being refused an entry permit for an extended period. We had to explain that the police do this independently of the court decision – just the fact that they had been arrested made them subject to refusal of entry. In both cases, the men wanted to approach lawyers for help. We arranged to clarify the situation and keep in touch. There is clearly such scope for unscrupulous lawyers to exploit poor folks’ ignorance. The bureaucracy is truly frightful – it is difficult enough to understand the regulations and the abundant official documents are in Hebrew!
27/12/2011 ,Afternoon
Yael L.-J. (reporting), Avital F.(driver and translator)
Etzion DCO
Arrival at 14.40 PM. It was still Hannukah and Christmas had just passed. Perhaps this was the reason why only two cars were parked and only one Palestinian sat in the waiting hall. He was a businessman from Bethlehem waiting for friends who were bringing him a document in order to get a magnetic card. After they had arrived he was immediately let in,and we had nothing to observe anymore. After waiting for another 15 minutes we left.
Wadi Jona
Nobody was there.
Kiryat Arba
We drove along the main road in parts, then had the impression that this was not such a good idea and returned to the highway to Jerusalem.
On our way home we took the road to the Herodion via the small
checkpoint Har Huma
(for traffic from and to Beit Sahour) which was almost empty
We did not check checkpoint Bethlehem, because A. had no gasoline anymore.
Return 16.00 PM.
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13/12/2011 ,Afternoon
Yael L.-J. (reporting), Avital F.(driver and translator)
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.
11/12/2011 ,Afternoon
Nava D., Daniela G. (reporting)
Etzion DCL, 15:15 pm: it is almost Christmas, and as usual, many need a magnetic card or a renewal of their existing one in order to be eligible for a permit. Thus, the parking lot is very full and some twenty women and men are huddled on the steps leading to the turnstile.
A young man with an American passport asks if we can help remove his girlfriend's being refused entry into Israel on security grounds. We give him S's number but say chances are slim. They want to go into the office anyway to try for a permit just for the holiday (good luck…) or to get an application form for the removal of her refusal on security grounds (It is not clear why these forms cannot be made more handy instead of having to go through a long and unpleasant wait just to get a form).
An elderly man vents his frustration at the situation and says the hardships only arouse more hatred and there will never be peace.
However, things have improved somewhat at the DCL: The soldier girl at the window tells us that even though the office inside is packed and it is rather late, everybody will go in. She is also attentive to our calls and whenever someone arrives with a need for something other than a magnetic card, she heeds and lets them in immediately. Moreover, the pace of people exiting the office having secured what they came for is pretty fast and they inform us that all 3 stations are operative inside.
15 minutes before closing time the 7 people still at the turnstile are told it is too late but they can come back tomorrow and ask for N (the nice soldier girl whom we already know). She will see to it that they go in even though it is not "their" day. The Palestinians have all the patience in the world and find it hard to accept "no" for an answer so they plead, we join in, and she succumbs. The waiting hall is empty and we can leave. Satisfied?
05/12/2011 ,Afternoon
Shlomit S., Ora A. (reporting)
14:15 pm, Etzion DCL: when we arrived, the parking lot was already full to overflowing, which didn’t augur well. Fifteen people were waiting in the hall, and we were told that about 50 more were inside ! Those waiting complained that the soldiers inside were not working, but were chatting among themselves, speaking on their mobile phones and resting.
During the previous two weeks we witnessed a definite improvement in the functioning of the DCL, the speed at which people entered and exited was reasonable and people didn’t have to wait for many hours.
We had hoped for an additional improvement and hadn’t expected a return to the previous slow rate, which is atrocious and damaging.
14:40 pm:
A few people were taken inside but no-one came out. At 15:10 we phoned the humanitarian center, and described the situation. As usual, they were polite and ready to help.
15:15 pm:
A man who had received his magnetic card came out. According to him, he had been waiting since 08:30 AM, and the man who came out next said that he had arrived at 08:00 AM. However, a man and his wife who came out after them told us that they had arrived just a short time ago, were taken inside, waited for a short time and received their magnetic cards. We couldn’t understand why they, who had just arrived, received their cards immediately, whereas those who had been waiting since eight in the morning had to wait for long hours and only now received their cards.
An elderly woman who approached us had the answer to the cause of this strange order of priority which allows the last to arrive to come out first, and which arouses a perception of injustice and maltreatment. According to her, she arrived after 2 pm, was taken inside and there met her son who had been waiting since 09:00 AM. When she entered, her finger-prints were taken, as was done to all the applicants who entered before her. Then she saw that the soldiers placed the sheets of paper on which the finger-prints had been recorded on a pile. Because she was the last, her prints were on top of the pile. Her magnetic card arrived, the soldier took her prints from the top of the pile, and called her to come and receive her magnetic card. She understood that her son’s finger-prints, together with those of all those who had arrived at the DCL first in the morning were at the bottom of the pile and therefore they were still waiting, while the prints of the last people to arrive were at the top of the pile and they received their magnetic cards immediately and left the DCL.
The system of allocating the order of priority can easily be corrected by simply instructing the soldiers to place each new set of prints at the bottom of the pile instead of on top of it, and this will enable the magnetic cards to be distributed to the waiting people in the same order as they arrived at the DCL. It is worthwhile suggesting to the officer commanding the DCL that he should instruct his soldiers accordingly, in order to eliminate the prevailing injustice .
Eight people were taken inside at 15:35 PM. At 15:45 PM it was announced that the hall was closing, in spite of the large number of people still waiting and in spite of the fact that the official closing time is 17.00 PM. We again phoned the humanitarian center and the hall was not closed. The soldiers worked at an accelerated speed and people started to come out one after the other. It’s a pity that the soldiers hadn’t worked at this speed during the previous hours.
The last of those waiting came out at 17:05 PM.
30/11/2011 ,Afternoon
Ruthie Elraz. an Zivit Nevo. (reporting)
Etzion DCL 3:00 pm: the DCL was empty apart from a father from Isawiye who was hoping to release his 17year-old son, who’d been arrested along with two friends in Bethlehem.
The father had been waiting from 1:00 pm since a policeman manning the area had instructed him to wait and then vanished. We weren’t able to figure out the policeman’s whereabouts. We gave the man a colleague’s phone number (she wasn’t available), and tried to help him figure out what to do (one of the youth, the vehicle owner, had been released one night earlier).
A Bethlehem resident arrived, who was refused attention on the previous Monday (the Bethlehem day) due to insufficient personnel. He tried his luck unsuccessfully (“let them learn to arrive on the right day”). We couldn’t coax the guard at the DCL.
Another case of a delayed person (?) who arrived with a Jerusalem-based employer was directed by Ruthie to call Sylvia.
We left at 4:20 pm.
The father had been waiting from 1:00 pm since a policeman manning the area had instructed him to wait and then vanished. We weren’t able to figure out the policeman’s whereabouts. We gave the man a colleague’s phone number (she wasn’t available), and tried to help him figure out what to do (one of the youth, the vehicle owner, had been released one night earlier).
A Bethlehem resident arrived, who was refused attention on the previous Monday (the Bethlehem day) due to insufficient personnel. He tried his luck unsuccessfully (“let them learn to arrive on the right day”). We couldn’t coax the guard at the DCL.
Another case of a delayed person (?) who arrived with a Jerusalem-based employer was directed by Ruthie to call Sylvia.
We left at 4:20 pm.
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