Bethlehem: Shaih- Saad; A new check point at the crossroad between Sawhra El Grebia and Sawhra El Shrakia Sunday 11.6.0.6 afternoonObservers:Ilana, Hagit S(reporting) Translation: Ruth F.15:40-17:30 At the blockage at the entrance to Shaih Saad (a BP officer “explained” to us that this is a border check point even though it looks like a blockage) were three BP officers. We saw accessories for throwing stun and gas grenades in their tent . Not many people were trying to pass towards G’abel Mukabar. One person wanted to visit his father, another had to get to an eye clinic, one lady wanted to go back home, and today, like in the last several days, only people with blue IDs are allowed to go west. People with asorted permits (work, humanitarian…) were sent back to Zaiton passage. The BP officers didn’t have a clue, nor did they care at all, where the passage was or how to get there. Beyond the rocks and the wire fences that block the passage, we saw several parked cars. These are local cars that cannot be taken beyond vicinity of the neighborhood. The numbers on the cars are fictitious; they don’t have a license or insurance. They can only be used to drive people and merchandise to the CP- this has been the situation for over two years, since the G’abel Mukabar neighbourhood has been blocked. When they were finally allowed to enter the neighborhood, some drivers who drove their cars up to the CP, started to transfer their merchandise. A truck unloaded small cartons with food and a private car unloaded marble plates. While leaving the neighborhood, the Police didn’t allow the merchandise to be transfered,claiming they couldn’t inspect what was in them. This restriction included parcels that were not very big, things like computers, whitewash or paint cans. The BP officers said they can only transfer merchandise from Tarqumiya and Mazmoria. Where are these places and how can people get there?- the BP officers didn’t have answers and wouldn’t make an effort to find out. We tried making some calls but that didn’t help. Finally, an army officer arrived (Aisam Hazbani), although he kept on reciting the mantra “these are the orders”, he came out of his jeep and after examining a computer, he let the owners pass with it. The officer also helped several pedestrians who the Police refused passage. He “used his better judgment’, perhaps in honor of us and perhaps not. The car owners described the road leading from Shiah Saad to Abu Dis as a path for donkeys. We were told that in the morning school children are allowed to pass. But sometimes they encounter difficulties. One person told us that two of his brothers who are retarded study in a Jerusalem elementary school. A couple of days ago they, and other children with them, were ordered to sit down on the ground, near the blockage, with their hands are on their heads. The high school students are allowed to pass according to lists of names. On the way back from Shaih Saad we drove north on a lower road leading to Silwan. Several kilometers from Shaih Saad, in the right, we saw an asphalt road in a valley leading to a new check point whose name I don’t know. We were there before when it was possible to drive on the road that goes down from Cliff hotel in Abu Dis, near the wall,to the junction from the left (east), a passage that blocked the road heading into Sawahra, and on the right (west) was an asphalt road leading to G’able Mukabar but it was also blocked. People leave their cars there and climb the dirt mound. This CP has been there from several months (?) and is manned 24 hours a day. A local person explained to us that the road connects between the eastern part of Sawahra and the western part, which includes G’able Mukabar and Shaih Saad. The three BPs there told us what the restrictions were. People whose names appear on the list are allowed passage. The list grows longer everyday, but not according to the color of the people’s IDs. Those with permits or blue IDs, but who don’t appear in the list, are sent to Zaiton. According to one person, who was heading west, in order to be on the list, one must hire a lawyer. People are asked to annouce their number, so that the Policeman can find their names faster. If I heard correctly, the numbers consist of three digits. The BP police are obviously not a very reliable source of information about the procedure necessary for getting on the list. I think it is very important to find out what are the criteria for getting on the list, and if one really has to have a lawyer in order to do it.