Bethlehem and vicinity, Wednesday PM, 10.5.06Observers: Laura S., Daniela G. (reporting)DCL Ezyon – 16:00: Lots of cars parked on the outside, 4 soldiers up on the roof, some people roaming around the parking lot, one or two men in the shed and about twenty, mainly men but some women as well, squashed in front of the turnstiles, looking like caged animals. Some people sought our assistance but besides explaining to a young woman that “no quota” meant she couldn’t get a work permit for now, and to a man how to get in touch with Maher from the police, there was so very little we could do. Some of those by the turnstiles claimed they had been there since the early morning hours and according to a soldier girl with whom we managed to have a few words at the gate behind the horrible complex, there was not much point in their waiting any longer because no more magnetic cards would be issued today. The girl seemed actually caring and tried to be helpful but very soon she was called away, reprimanded for having spoken to us and when she relayed our request that Amir would come to the gate instead, we were ordered by the guard to step back behind the big blocks. She did manage to tell that numbers (80 or 90) for magnetic cards requests are handed out first thing in the morning and latecomers without a number had just better come back even earlier the following day. Without a number you don’t get the chance to place your request for a magnetic card. However, the Palestinians still crowd the turnstiles even when the numbers are long gone, claiming 2 people had pushed and fought their way inside though no one knew if they had succeeded in obtaining the card. We cannot but join our fellow watchers in crying out that something must be done about the inhuman situation at the DCL.Ezyon CP: Manned in both directions but traffic flows.Al Kahder: Loads of transits and taxis on both side of the blocking earth plus garbage heap.Bethlehem Crossing: A bus load of tourists coming out of Bethlehem but so do a few Palestinians, and some make their way quickly into Bethlehem. By now, probably only those with the right papers come to cross here.