Bethlehem, 25/7/05 p.m.Observers: Shlomit S., Yael S. (reporting)Bethlehem CP 300: About six detainees are under a tree inside the checkpoint. Some of them are sitting; the others are standing. I report it to Chen from the military center. He informs me, then, that the Palestinians are invited to call the center at any time with any problem regarding coordination and communication: 02-9977733.Since the situation at Bethlehem checkpoint makes accessibility to detainees impossible for us, Shlomit keeps track of vehicles passing and reports a car per minute. Two lanes are active, but not simultaneously. The trunks of the cars are inspected in both directions.Road 60 and Al Khadr: An army jeep is parked beyond the tunnels and catches those “sifting” through. We stop there for a moment to make sure that there has been no abuse. The soldier approaches us and gladly provides the above information. I see on his face that my suspicion was for nothing. At Al Khadr a jeep is parked by the pillbox, but life is bustling as usual. Today, as well, we cannot park there because of the heavy taxi and bus traffic.Ezyon DCO: The fans are working, and there are no unpleasant odors. A merchant from Hebron has already been waiting three hours for GSS questioning. He complains about the waste of his precious time. Four hours he was detained entering Israel at Alenbi Bridge; Four hours he waited for Captain Nimer from Hebron who sent him to Ezion DCO; and now he has been waiting for three hours. Azhar and Moti are not present, and no one at the DCO can help, so we inform the Humanitarian Center.A medical issue in short: A woman is sitting on the steps leading to the carousel on the way to the windows. She is the grandmother of a child who has been receiving medical treatment in Hadassa Hospital for a long time. She speaks Arabic only. She shows me her applications and the permit she was issued. However, “Not authorized” is written on the application of the man accompanying her and her grandchild; “Cousin of the one under care” is written somewhere else in his document. “He always comes with me to Hadassa”, she says; “He speaks Hebrew and helps”. It turns out that the child’s mother is sick, and the father is unable to function. A phone call to Shahar at Health Coordination (02-9977022) reveals that the man was issued a permit previously. Shahar transfers me to Meir who calls the DCO, and half an hour later, at the most, the cousin accompanying the woman and child receives an authorization, as well.For all those who discount any connection with the army, this is a classic situation resolved because of good relations with the health coordinating body’s response to our requests in a matter of fact manner.An Israeli merchant asks us where he can obtain a permit for employing laborers during closure. A phone call to the administration’s spokesperson provides the employer with the needed telephone number.A Palestinian with a blue ID, an Israeli citizen ID, is applying for a permit for his wife who has an orange ID, a Palestinian ID. He complains that the issue of uniting families is not address by us enough. “You have to do something”, he says again and again, but does not elaborate. More men and women come for permits. Some of them tell us about their problems and hardships; others don’t. About fifteen pass during our time there. Beit Omar: We do not see any military presence. We do not stop, but return to Jerusalem.