Bethlehem and Surroundings, Tuesday pm, May 31st Watchers: Yael I., Yael N.,Matanya G. and Ronny P. Ruth (guest) Our shift started with the usual view of police and MPs checking people opposite the Tantur Institute- this time there didn’t seem to be any detainees.. First we drove to the Etzion DCO. There were about 20 people there. The first issue we heard about was permits for workers for the different Lutheran and German evangelical churches. They first heard that the “quota” was filled and in the end they all received a permit. We tried to phone all the commanders and as ususal they were all in meetings. We were rewarded,though, with a live encounter with all the commanders together. All they wanted to hear is how efficient the service they offer is and how outgoing they are because anyway fhe Palestinians could receive all the services elswhere and they just come there on the off chance to get the permits from the DCO .. On the other hand they refused to relate to the issue of the interviews with Intelligence officers . We met a man who was visited last night at 2am ,given a slip of paper which called him for a 11.30am appointment with Captain Lawrence. We urged the soldiers from the time we arrived until 5.30 -official closing of all windows at the DCO- to contact the Intelligence officers . When we met them in person the commander bade the men to go. home. On the issue of quotas for church workers we were informed that even the top commander of the DCO doesn’t have the authority to change the quotas and that it is even higher authorities who decide .. Anothe issue that was discussed was the issue of car permits. Only commercial vehicles CAN GO THROUGH THE CHECKPOINTS AND A BUSINESSMAN WITH A INSURANCE PAPERS THAT STATED THAT HIS VAN IS BOTH PRIVATE AND COMMERCIAL WAS REFUSED A PERMIT. We helped a man who was refused a permit because the car papers he presented were a photocopy – fortunately he had the original as well and he just didn’t undestand why he was refused permission. We spoke to a man who arrived with big plastic containers. His house is situated opposite the affluent Alon Shvut settlement . His house has no water and no electricity. His neighbours don’t alow him to get water there so he has to get a ride to the DCO and fill his containers in the toilet with fresh water. El KHADER: No MP or Army presence. Very busy and millions of idle taxis. we spoke to a number of people who have problems with fines up to 25 000 NIS. We promised to contact Chaya and see where we can help. It is the stories that each person tells that make up the picture of life under the occupation rules that is so hard to hear..GILO- entry to road 60: There were police and MPs and we saw 10 detainees and stopped to talk to them. They complained that they had been waiting for a long time – up to 3 hours. Everyone had their IDs checked and were detainedd because they had no permit- they managed to get to work and were now on their way home. Part of them got their IDs back after signing the forms that say that if they are caught again… The others had just their details put on another form filled out by the MPs. There was among them also an Israeli taxi stopped with a young woman passenger. The soldier checked every single paper she had in her handbag and in the end he got into the taxi and drove off with her- probably to the 300 detention station.It was depressing to watch the meticulous and long examination and then knowing that if the MP drove off with them how many more hours will pass before she would be allowed to return home.