The Container, Zeitim CP, Abu-Dis, Sheikh SaedMonday, 24.07.2006, AMObservers: Maya B., Judy S., Anat T. (reporting)The Container: 06:30 – A line of 20 vehicles crowding the crossing towards Bethlehem. The documents of all passengers are checked (without checking the computer). We call the Otef Jerusalem to ask the meaning of this profound concern for the security of Bethlehem and Hebron residents, why each vehicle leaving in that direction is checked, and the surprising answer is: security alerts. This applies to all travel directions. We suspect that it’s connected also to the new order we reported last week, forbidding Palestinian holders of blue IDs to travel to the West Bank “so as not to endanger them.” As for traffic in the direction of Jerusalem – at first there are no delays, but after half-an-hour the dog-trainers arrive, signalling the start of checks of taxis travelling to Jerusalem (IDs returned after computer check, we didn’t see checks with dogs).Passengers report to us bitterly that the delays are unbearably numerous this week. A man working in Ramallah tells how he waited at 3 checkpoints to cross towards Ramallah – a total of three hours. We take the opportunity of a conversation with Elisha of the DCO, who was there when we arrived, to express our concern at what is happening at Sheikh Saed. The holders of Palestinian IDs are unable to cross there to Jabel Mukaber, and there are many violent incidents. Elisha, an efficient and business-like man, believes efforts are made to meet their needs, but promises to check again.Zeitim CP: 07:45 – We meant to arrive early, having been told that the great pressure is around 05:30-06:00, but this time we did not succeed. Two positions are operative, and the line stretches also in front of the outer carousel (c. 15 persons) – the red light is on most of the time. There is a closure on today, holders of work-permits too do not cross. Only humanitarian cases and authorized professions (when someone crosses there are cries of “what do you work at” on the loudspeaker, and some of the people are sent right back by the female soldier wielding the loudspeaker). Those waiting in line ask when the closure will be over. Ophir from the DCO doesn’t know, but we later learn that the intention is to end it on Wednesday. Two workmen tell us that when there is a closure they lose money in addition to their wages because their employer charges for arranging their work permits – NIS 3000 for 3 months – and the permit duration is thus wasted. We are shocked, and check with H. in R.G. H. gets back to us and assures us that all this is indeed legal, and not the work of a thieving employer: the state charges each Palestinian workman NIS 900 (!) monthly for insurance, benefits etc. It seems utterly unreasonable, but is the case, H. tells us. By the way, Elisha explained that in order to enter the Zeitim CP, one is required to co-ordinate with the police at #100. We decided to try next time.The Pishpash and the Abu-Dis Wall: 08:30 – The Pishpash appears pretty abandoned. 2 border policemen, one of them business-like, patiently explaining to people that they are not allowed to cross. We thank him for his courtesy. Below, in the area of the gas station, some persons seized the opportunity to run along the wall and cross in the building area. Soon this will not be possible.8.45 – The descent from A-Tur past the police station – a surprise check-point. 4 detainees. The answer to our inquiry was that people detour the closure. They are released speedily, and one man holding a work-permit in Israel tries to explain that 3000 trees in the Rehovoth area await his watering. Another day like today and they will begin to wither. He is the only one who holds the key. We promise to help transfer the key to the landlord if no other solution is found, but he doesn’t get back to us – presumably the problem was solved. His companion tells us he must give a blood donation for his sick mother in Mokassad, but when we approach the border police they tell us that just a few minutes ago they let through someone else for that very reason, only after which did this man annouonces that he too is in the same dilemma.Sheikh Saed: 09:00 – We hear hysterical cries from a distance: “…. you’ve ground my brains, I can’t take any more.” A few women stand at the checkpoint, trying to calm down the young soldier and coax him – they can feel that he’s not truly harsh. We speak to the boy and find out that he’s been there since 3 AM. There was a big crowd in the morning, gas grenades and confusion, and now it’s hot and exhausting, and the orders are unequivocal: no one is allowed through except acute humanitarian cases (and this does not include the elderly or a doctor’s appointment.) Certainly hard to function. Suddenly he calls to his commander who is busy with selecting further up the hill: “I can’t take any more. Everybody pass. They [meaning us] are driving me crazy with their questions.” For a few minutes there is a quick crossing of women and the elderly. The commander, who seems a little calmer, complains that every one now in Sheikh Saed has come down with some sickness – just stories in order to cross. He tells us that he was physically present at 3 terrorist attacks, and has buried friends killed on those occasions. It is, without doubt, a hallucinatory situation here, and the young soldiers appear to be at the end of their tether.Bleak conclusion from this shift: without doubt, the Palestinians are getting an even rougher deal because of the war in Lebanon. We give vent to our fury with further prohibitions. They don’t understand why they should be connected to all this, and the terrorist alerts appear to most of them one more way of humiliating them.