Bethlehem CP, Ezyon DCL, Thursday, 25.5.06, AM Observers: Ruth E., Aviva W., Rama Y. (reporting) guests: a Christian group from USABethlehem CP: According to what we were told, the line back at the CP was hellish. A youngster of 18-19 was badly bitten by soldiers. Two young women from the Ecumenical organization eye witnessed the incident. They said that a group of tourists arrived from Bethlehem, accompanied by a soldier, and were placed ahead of the youngster. He protested, and was bitten by a soldier and thrown into the pen. They had the impression that his hand was badly hurt, maybe broken. We called the IDF Humanitarian Center, and they promised to call back. At the end of the shift we called them again. According to them, the youngster was released; they did not know whether he was wounded.We took the two young women along with us to Ezyon DCL. They are on a daily shift at Bethlehem CP, passing in both directions and reporting what is going on. They were treated rather roughly by the soldiers when the incident with the young man took place, maybe — I’m not sure about it — because they were taking pictures.,b>Ezyon DCL: We met a Christian group from USA here, 15 persons, coming from Bethlehem.The DCL was closed, because of the “holiday” — Jerusalem Day that marks the “reunification” of the city — except for humanitarian cases. There were very few people, and still, at least three of them could not receive their special permits, because, we learned, those arrive from Beit El DCO, and Beit El DCO was closed, because of the “holiday.” For example, a man whose three year old son had to undergo an eye operation the morrow at St John hospital; all his papers were in order and he had applied for the permit the previous day and had been told to come and fetch it the next morning. But the OK from Beit El hadn’t arrived — so no permit. Yael S. from MWatch was (again) a great help, and the man got the permit after our departure.