Bethlehem Wednesday, 11/8/2004 Observers: Sylvia P., Shlomit F., Ofra B. (reporting) A new checkpoint for Sylvia and myself. 6:30,checkpoint 300. A few BPs, polite, not nice: “Stand behind the concrete blocks!” A military stand, a cover, a path four-five times longer than the straight way on the road, where the pedestrians must walk after they have crossed the checkpoint. Why? There is a queue of 40-45 people under the cover and they are crossing s-l-o-w-l-y s-l-o-w-l-y.Besides the people humiliation that is transmitted by this checkpoint, there was something angering, irritating, disgusting in the presence of the Woman in Green [a right-winged women’s organization]. She speaks rudely and provocatively, continuously photographing us, walking behind and around us when we turn our backs to her. It took me time to ignore her. 7:00, Beit Jalla. The checkpoint was still closed when we arrived and was opened a few minutes later. There is a small queue of four cars coming from Jerusalem waiting there. We came close to the checkpoint. A soldier came to us and asked not to photograph him. He didn’t pay any more attention to us. We crossed to the other side of the checkpoint. There is small queue on this side as well but they are checked quickly and allowed to cross. 7:30, El Khader. Not really a checkpoint. It is a crossing area and people are not checked everyday. It is a pass on a dirt road which was in the past a normal road. On both sides there are piles apparently created by a bulldozer. The pass connects the tunnel road on one extreme and the Wadi Nar–Sawahre road on the other extreme (it is for us a kind of closing a circle). To each one of the extremes stand, come and go Transit cars and taxis that bring people to their aim.Like the Pishpash gate at Abu Dis – a little less shame for me but an insult – again there are old people, pregnant women, children, babies and carriers of heavy parcels. In this place we can see the power of life in spite of everything: Young boys with supermarket carts, with handbarrows carry parcels for the people crossing. Children sell coffee, tea, bagels; and stands – actually an improvised market of foodstuff, haberdashery, cassettes, disk-men and telephones. Sheds with colored garments, music. A third world market… 8:30, Ezion DCO. The entrance to an elevated building, surrounded by a fence and a narrow pass beside the WC. Nothing there kills, but it offends. Humiliates. A crowded cabin is on the passage. There are ventilators but they start functioning only after we asked for and then only some. Heat. Men sit and stand – pretty packed. Among them some who write down the names of the waiting people and organize the queue. The queue moves. Are problems solved?We tried to help with problems like:- Change of entrance permit from Efrat to Ma’ale Adumim. In the past, the entrance permit was valid in all places.- Parking fines from many years ago. Must be paid in the Post Office branch and they cannot access it.- Parking fines of 2,000 shekels. We didn’t succeed to help. About working permits and magnetic cards that must be renewed – delays with the widespread excuses: The matter is being checked; the matter was halted by the GSS (perhaps they want something in exchange?). We have also bureaucracy, but here the people don’t dare demand, even not ask – for what they deserve.