Jalama Wednesday, 28/7/2004 Observers: Snait A., Dalit Y.B. (reporting) 7:00. The checkpoint is vacant but we are surrounded by buses. We are approached by staff major A. who introduces himself as the checkpoint commander. He explains that today they expect families’ visit, but they haven’t arrived yet. Fifteen minutes later, the families start coming escorted by two Red Cross persons who organize them. The soldiers arrange three checking lines: two for families and one for workers. As staff major A. puts it, “People do need to get to work even when there are visits.” The crossing of the gate is swift and efficient. Ab., with whom I’ve talked a week ago, sees me, waves and smiles. “Now everything is quick. I’m happy,” he says. We speak with the Palestinians who are waiting in the checking line. They complain of the unexpected “closures” in checkpoint 250, which causes delays. One of them works as a porter at the checkpoint. He complains that in the last two days the soldiers would not let him through with his cart. He asks us to assist him in getting a permit for his cart from DCO Salem. A. says that there are very “hot” alerts concerning someone trying to go through the gate with an explosive belt. We’re asked to go and see what is happening at checkpoint 250, in the afternoon. To sum up: a smooth efficient passage. Checkpoint CP 250, 8:30. Due to hot alerts, there is tension. Soldiers appear up tight. We ask about the frequent and unexpected closures of the checkpoint and are given the answer that they close only when they eat or at times of shifts changing; they have to do so due to shortage in numbers of soldiers. “We are human beings who need to eat and urinate. Do not make ‘Bad guys’ out of us,” they request. It seems that they do care about how they are perceived by civilians and what is being written about them. Salem DCO, 9:00. Border police soldiers guard the lower entrance to the Palestinians entrance of the DCO. They do not allow us to come closer. They haven’t heard of MachsomWatch. A Jeep arrives with a commander who forcefully tells us to stay away and not to disturb the soldiers who are doing their job.I was sorry I’ve lost the telephone numbers of the DCO officers and therefore left the area without contacting them.