Bethlehem, An-Nashash, Beit Ummar – Friday, Nov.24 2006 amobserving and reporting: Efrat B, Barbara SBethlehem CP:Only one window operates, but there aren’t too many people.During today’s short shift, we see only men crossing into Israeli territory – every single one with his belt in his hand after the “security” check.An older man from Bethlehem pleads to be allowed in to organize medical care on our side for his daughter, who is suffering from a severe disease of the lungs, but while having a magnetic card, he is without permission to enter, and the soldier at the window is adamant about refusing him entry. At Al-Nashash we are told that our attempt last week to intervene with the “humanitarian hotline” of the army on behalf of the cab drivers, who are constantly harrassed by soldiers very arbitrarily prohibiting them from being in certain places or others, had no effect whatsoever.Quite a few people ask for our help. Among them a young man who has been married for three years to a woman from Jerusalem. She grew up in the city and has a Jerusalem birth certificate as well as Kupat Holim documentation. When she left the city to move in with her new husband in Suriq, she tried to get a blue ID but was given only the piece of paper that usually goes with the ID. Hence, since her wedding day, she has hardly been able to see her family any more, because it is such a hassle to cross into Israel without a proper ID.Another one tells us he has been married to a Jewish-Israeli woman for the past five years, and in spite of the fact that every single one of his many siblings has security clearance to get into Israel, he alone will not get a permit.On the main street in Beit Ummar a hummer is positioned, but we observe no further interference in people’s activities.Somebody tells us about a child that was taken to Etzion blindfolded, along with his father, for the crime of throwing stones.