We arrived at the DCO to see more Palestinians that we have seen in a long time, some for the magnetic card and some called in by the GSS. 

Some men were there who had had a road roller confiscated as well as a truck with a water container on it. They had been preparing a road for asphalt within the village near Efrat. They did not know if this was forbidden. Had they known, they would not have done so. One of the regime’s ways to keep the Palestinians in a constant state of not knowing what the law is. And add to that that the soldiers are a law unto themselves. They do not necessarily have to know the law to act, however illegally. The men did not know who to turn to.  Above are the papers which they had been given. All they want is to be told where to pay the fine. They had been given a number to phone but no one answered. Remember that we have trouble understanding documents but they do not even have the language to start with.

The paper says the vehicles were confiscated due to the suspicion that the confiscated articles were used or about to be used to commit an offense. 1984 is here. We gave them the number of St. Ives. They are from a village, Jurat A-shamaa, (Wikipedia: The candle jar) in the Bethlehem area. 

A man accompanied his son and they were called in. They were here yesterday and told to come back today. Why not? What else do the Palestinians have to do with their time? They should be grateful that the army gives them a program. They came back today and at least the young man went in.

Another man was taken from his home on the 19th and they took his phone from him, as well as his laptop   and his ID. By the way, by law it is forbidden to separate a person and his ID. They also took his son from the house and he does not know where he is. He says his son was hunting birds. Something to do with hunting laws?  He had been to the DCO to try to regain his possessions but without luck. Over the phone, he, like many other Palestinians we have had contact with, was scared to talk   so there is no follow up to this story.  It shows the atmosphere that they live in….and to go by the news… the four from Caesaria and the police lists of demonstrators, shows what we also have come to this. By the way, though this has nothing to do with Machsomwatch, but already in the Balfour days one could see the police suddenly charging into a group and dragging out a person who had only been standing on the sidewalk.