Bethlehem Oct. 4, 2004 PMWatchers: Shlomit S. Dina H. (reporting) Guest: TziliM.Israel celebrates Succot (and the sixth day of “Daysof Atonement” operation in Gaza)At the crossroads, settlers in their Saturday best arewaiting for rides. On the main highways, you see onlyIsraeli cars, not even one Palestinian.Al Hadr – 14:30About 15 Transits are waiting by the dirt mound. Thereare not enoughpassengers to fill even one cab. Apparently, there areno soldiers.DCO Etzion- 14:50On the square, under a tree, a father and son areeating Humus. It looks like a picnic; in fact, theywere summoned by the SHABAC and have been waitingsince 7 AM.About 15 people sit waiting inside the facility, theirfaces to the windows. A particularly mean soldierwatches them from an observation point on the roofopposite the facility. He makes a point of operatingthe revolving doors so that people are trapped insidethem.There must be a security reason for this procedure. Idemand to know his name and rank and the name of hiscommander, but the soldier ignores me. I lose mytemper and tell him to get down.The soldier (menacingly): Are you threatening me?I (humbly): Me, a little old woman threatening you?A Beit Jala resident, about 30 years old, is waitinginside the facility. He claims that a year ago he wasshot in the foot and has since suffered frominfection. He wishes to go to a hospital in Jerusalem.The DCO declines to give him a permit. Shlomit triesto talk to A., but he only grins and turns her downpolitely.We call Dalia Bassa, but she has no recourse either.She suggests the patient go to Bet El DCO and appealto the legal advisor there. Or conversely, that hepresent a summons from Mukasad Hospital. The man givesup and goes home.Another man from Bet Jala seeks a “certificate of goodbehavior” so he can marry his Swedish girlfriend.Apparently, he’s been trying to get such a certificatefor ten years, with no results.Efrat Checkpoint – 15:45The CP is not manned.Al Hadr – 15:50Deserted, as before. Bethlehem CP 300 – 16:00The road to the CP is filled with the parked cars ofvisitors to Rachel’s Tomb. They are bussed in drovesto and from the tomb in protected buses.