Bethlehem 8/7/2004 Watchers: Noa S., Hadas B., Shalmit B. (reporting), 2 guests: Luka and Fiorella (Swiss journalist and his wife) Check point 300, 6:45. 4 detainees (3 men and a woman) wait under the tree. We were allowed to watch the gate from a short distance. The checkpoint was opened to all permit-holders; people and cars passed efficiently. Some soldiers called Luka not to take photos, claiming this was a military zone. We objected, though no real dispute developed. One Woman in Green [a right winged organization that took upon itself the task of “protecting” soldiers at the CPs against MachsomWatch women] took photos freely. Beit Jalla, 7:20. Cars come and go with only a brief check. The soldiers explicitly ignore us. Jeeps movement in the village is felt. DCO Ezion. Around 25 men wait in and around the waiting room (hot inside). We held a few conversations in order to understand the procedures:Generally, 3 windows are opened – for magnetic cards, permits and police. The opening hours of the police are written on the wall (sun. 2-5 pm., mon. 9-11am, 2-5 pm, tues . 9-11am, 2-5 pm, wed. 8-11, thu. closed). The other windows open between 8 and 8:30 am and close around 5 pm. Fri-Sat closed.Another procedure to receive permits: An Israeli contractor gets work permits in Israel, and with them it is possible to enter the country. It seems as nowadays such procedure is hardly used. People arrive from early morning in order to obtain a place. The first to arrive begins a name list, and everyone who arrives later registers with him. At 8 am, began a movement inside the offices. At 8:10 A. appeared on the roof and called the man with the list to start sending 2-3 people inside for permits or cards. All were actually waiting for magnetic cards, but only half an hour later, another window for cards was opened. The negotiation of each applicant with the soldier takes approximately 10 minutes. According to the Palestinians, only 10% of the requests are answered affirmatively, which was also our impression. According to another notice hanged in the waiting room, covering the permits in plastic is forbidden (covering done since permits get tattered in a few days if not put in plastic covers, but the army claims that this conceals fakes, and confiscates such permits). In a hasty conversation with A. the following was explained: – The DCO will reprint in place permits confiscated due to plastic (we have no witnesses to approve this). – A person whose request for permit or card was refused is allowed to submit a request for reconsideration (istarkhan in Arabic). The re-examination is done by the GSS and takes long time, and in most cases, it is denied. When the GSS decides on denial, the decision is not explained, and also the DCO workers do not know why certain men with no problematic record cannot receive permits. Both in the DCO and in El Khader several men with sad eyes and desperate stories turned to us. In the past, they worked in Israel, but in the last years they lost their jobs. The DCO refuses to give them permits. Requests for reconsideration were denied (in one case we saw the papers of a man whose request from June 2003 was answered only in June 2004. No reason mentioned – only the word “Denied” is circled). Meanwhile they somehow, live on. The general feeling is that the GSS is an almighty, arbitrary figure, which uses bureaucracy for more bullying of civilians. El Khader, 9:35. 2 jeeps of border police check IDs randomly. Around 30 young men are standing in the blazing sun, waiting for their IDs to be returned. It is very hot and there is no water. The soldiers ask one of the Palestinians to distribute back the IDs to the men, since the Palestinians do not understand the way they pronounce the names. The soldiers spoke politely with us. They are acting in the area of El Khader and Hussan from early morning, and in the past served in various checkpoints around the West Bank. They try not to detain the men more than 30 minutes. They are also out of drinking water. Several men applied to us as for permits and the number of the Moked (Center for the Defense of the Individual).