Bethlehem, El Khader, DCO EzyonSunday, April 16 AM Observers: Sylvia P, Ofra B, Chana A (reporting) 6:45 Bethlehem CP: Closure. Only a few crossers, many Christians who cross to go to church in Jerusalem. Some buses are waiting for their passengers, tourists spending the night in Bethlehem, all foreigners.7:15 El Khader: It’s raining and cold. A few people come to talk to us, very few petitioners.8:15 Ezyon: CROWDS ARE WAITING AT THE ETSION DCO. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ALREADY AT THIS EARLY HOUR. Although the rain and the wind are getting stronger, a lot of people crowd around our car to tell us of their experiences. It is clear that, in spite of hundreds of requests for magnetic (read: biometric) cards, only a few are being prepared per day. The contrast between the amount of people seeking the card and the low production rate creates unbearable tension. Only a few cards are produced every day (some say less than ten, some say a few more).One man tells us he has been coming here for several days. Every day he waits a few hours, but his number never comes up. One person tells us he came at 3AM, but got a number too high for realizing his ambition of getting the card.Although several people have problems we will try to solve, the main thrust of this report is that there is another human tragedy unfolding before our eyes. A tragedy that was predictable from the start: Two months of closed DCO offices have created hundreds of requests for the biometric card. No cards were issued during those months and people with rights to cards had to wait till the office reopened. Now that the office opened, there is insufficient man power, insufficient amount of card-creating machines, not enough office hours etc. etc. (and many days of chag during which the DCO is closed altogether)with the result that people come day after day and every time there are more people crowding around, bitter, disappointed, losing workdays, money and patience. If it’s impossible to deal with more cases than are being processed now, then WHY NOT LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THIS IS ALPHABETICAL ORDER, BY AGE, OR NUMBER, BUT AVOID HAVING EVERYONE COME EVERY DAY.DIVIDE THEM BY THE CASE AND ARRANGE FOR A LIMITED NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO BE DEALT WITH EVERY DAY. PUT UP NOTICES IN ARABIC, COLLECT NAMES AND NUMBERS OF APPLICANTS, In any case, the lack of communication with the public is only making things worse. There needs to be a dialogue, in Arabic, either in writing or by direct communication. These are honest people, trying to make ends meet, a public that is totally at the mercy of the authorities. Let’s not take advantage of a bad situation, it is in everyone’s interest to have an orderly situation and deal with the new cards efficiently.When we left, there were 250 people waiting for biometric cards, 52 waiting for other permits.Is someone out there listening? Will anyone do anything to alleviate this bureacratic knot?