Two border police-jeeps were stationed
near the gas station. A number of people were scaling the wall
successfully. The hotel owners have started a court case, so no
border police presence. But meanwhile bulldozers have broken the
gate and the irrigation system. The newly planted garden looks
pathetic. The entire building has been ‘annexed’ to Jerusalem, so
that municipal taxes have to be paid. Back at the bottom the border
policemen told us that the gate up the hill is closed. At 07:30 the
passage had been closed until 16:00. A climb to the right of the
wall over rubble, with a rickety easy chair on the other side was
the only way to pass and lines formed on both sides, since only one
person can pass at the time. Fortunately there were no
schoolchildren, since it was Sunday. The official gate had been
broken during the night and not yet been repaired. Three border
policemen stationed at the wall didn’t check anyone and
occasionally helped elderly people or women with babies pass. En
route to the Container, one passenger complained that the
inhabitants of Beit Sahur, Eizariya and Sawahre were completely cut
off from medical care. He said that a father who cannot get to a
doctor with his son had no choice but blow himself up within
Israel.

Sawahre. No detainees. All pedestrians and cars were allowed to
pass. Occasionally IDs of Abu Dis bound passengers were checked,
which took about 20 minutes. The locals stated to their
satisfaction that the situation was ‘very good’. The soldiers when
queried about the closure said that we should not always believe
what is said on the radio. On the way back we stopped at the
protest tent set up on the basketball court of the University which
is going to be intersected by the wall. About 40 people, mostly
men, were sitting on plastic chairs around tables. There was a
stage in the middle of the court and many more chairs were piled up
on one side. A young man, apparently the spokesman, was immediately
dispatched to us. He explained in very good English the situation
and showed us the maps. He said he understood that the wall is a
fact, but that they have taken lawyers to protect the area of the
university. The wall will run through the middle of the football
field and the basketball court. A huge passive demonstration had
been staged last week. A massive parade of people had approached on
the road and BP-men with rifles drawn had been stationed on the
hill across where bulldozers had already started digging. Behind
them the tanks had been placed to back the soldiers. They were sure
that the students would start throwing rocks with the usual result
of tear gas and rubber bullets. Instead, the gymnasts of the
university performed some exercises between the crowds and the
soldiers, while the field was cleared so that a football match
could start. The soldiers retreated. Every night there are such
performances, and photographs of all happenings are displayed on
the wall next to the maps and the evacuation orders for evacuation
(of August 26) and instructions on how to apply for compensation.
The press comes often. Back at the gate it is clear no one is in a
hurry to repair it. This collective punishment is felt only by the
weak and elderly, rather than by the supposedly young persons who
vandalized the gate in the night.