Ezyon DCL, Rachel’s Checkpoint, Monday 18.6.2005, PMObservers: Neta B-P, Mika G (reporting) 13:20- The Tunnel checkpoint:The traffic on both directions was flowing. On the side road leading to Jerusalem were about five detained cars. On our way back we saw again some cars being inspected. 13:30- Ezyon DCLThe sight inside the DCL was completely ludicrous: There wasn’t a living soul in the air-conditioned and spotless waiting hall, while outside, by the large gate, were about 50 people crowded up in the sun. Those people told us that during the morning they had distributed 40 numbers and then the soldiers told them to go outside and wait there. At about 12:00 a soldier distributed 10 more numbers only to those waiting outside. All those who were waiting inside- were left without a number. The female soldier that was sitting at the counter in the hall said they didn’t have the means to distribute the numbers in the waiting hall, and that’s why they did it outside. Since only two computers were working, they distributed only 72 numbers on that day, some at 7:30 and some at 12:30. The soldier claimed that the those prevented passage by the GSS took their numbers even though they knew that they wouldn’t be accepted- and this is done on the expense of someone else who could get card. Anyway, she said that they wouldn’t be handing out more numbers and that they would serve only those who needed a permit. In spite of what she said, about 20 people stayed there. Perhaps they knew from their past experience that the situation could always change, and perhaps they just didn’t have anything better to do. A few people who needed a permit immediately received service. Four people were waiting for the GSS. Two of them got their IDs back, from a soldier at the counter, after our intervention. The other two, among them a dentist from Hebron who was refused passage at the Allenby Bridge when he was on his way to Jordan and Eygpt- had been waiting there since early that morning. We tried calling the humanitarian center, and talk to Neta (who was very courteous) who promised to help them. They’re situation was the same when we left. A twenty two year old man was refused a magnetic card because of his age. Again we were told heart breaking stories about the difficulties of sustaining oneself with out a sufficient income.A person that was prevented passage by the GSS told us that a lawyer from Beit Omar was handling his case. A man who is married to a Palestinian with an Israeli ID asked for your help. The soldiers wouldn’t give him a permit to be in Israel. He said it was because he was 28. We told him that his wife had to speak to the Ministry of Interior. A young man was waiting for a fax to be sent from Beit El. He is married to a Jewish woman and they have a four year old daughter they raise together. He told us that he has to renew his permit every three months in order to live with his wife and daughter in Israel. Someone was looking for Maher the policeman. We called him and he said that he wouldn’t be at the DCL all day. He told us he would only come on Wednesday. 15:50- Rachel’s CheckpointWe tried entering the parking lot where we always park. In it were construction facilities, a large tent was built there and two toilet stalls added. A large man, probably a contractor, told us that we couldn’t park there. We asked him what they were building and he only said: a detention house. We should try and find out what is the purpose of this installation. There were only two manned inspection posts in the checkpoint. The lines were getting longer, but two more posts were immediately activated and everyone passed quickly.