Beit-Lehem and surroundings, 13.9.05, AMObservers: Tamar A., Tirza L. (reporting), Bob M. (visitor)Checkpoint “300” 7:00 – Three people detained, waiting underneath the trees on the south side of the checkpoint. Traffic from both sides of the checkpoint. No queue. It takes 1 – 2 minutes for a car to pass through. A transit is waiting on the side. People that probably arrived on the transit, are going through the pedestrian inspection, and return to the transit. When that is completed, the transit continues to Jerusalem.El-Hader 7:30 – Regular passage of pedestrians. No soldiers on site.A transit driver asks to speak to us. He points at part of the front window, that is smashed. Says that the army did that: A month ago, when he was at Sawahra checkpoint with his wife and kids, the soldier smashed the pane in an argument.Three people stop us on the way back. They want to arrange for an entrance permit to Israel – one wants to just travel, the other – to work. Tamar instructs them how to apply for a permit. DCI 8:10 – Approximately 10 people are waiting when we arrive. The soldiers are already operating the line for magnetic cards.An older man, whose son is a brother in a church in Jerusalem, is asking for a permit to visit him with his wife. His son cannot come to him. The last time he was at the DCI, he was told to bring a letter confirming the purpose of the visit. He now brought a letter from a senior official in the Greek Patriarchy. The man tells us that he occasionally also functions as a maintenance worker at the church. Now he is told at the DCI to bring some document from the Ministry of Religion. Tamar calls Moti from the DCI, who tells her that until further notice is given, family visits aren’t authorized, and that the man must have a regular work permit if he wants to enter for work purposes. Tamar calls Zaher, the commander of the DCI, but he is in a meeting. Tamar takes the man’s details.Until 8:35, approximately 15 people that were waiting in two groups, receive magnetic cards.Another man turns to us. He is married to an Israeli woman, and has filed a request for family reunion. Meanwhile, he received an entrance permit to Israel for a number of months, which ended on September 9. He already has the certificate from the Ministry of Interior which enables him to arrange for the re-issuing of the entrance permit for another 6 months. When he went up to the soldier, the soldier said that because the date of the permit had elapsed (on Sept. 9) he cannot reissue the permit. The man is perplexed – he has here the Ministry’s certificate, valid for 6 months, to re-issue the permit! Tamar calls Moti, who says it shouldn’t be a problem, the man should go back on line to the soldier. But he was just there! No matter, he should go again. The man goes up again, the soldier behind the booth says to him – leave. Tamar calls Moti again – Moti will check what the problem is. The man is at loss – this is the first time such a thing happens with the reissuing of the permit. Tamar takes his details – he should call if the matter isn’t resolved.Another man comes up to us. He just got an answer to his request for a magnetic card – denial on security grounds. He is 38, a father of 7, there is a contractor in Jerusalem who is interested in employing him. Tamar takes his details and instructs him how to try and cancel this denial.In between these exchanges, some other people who are waiting receive magnetic cards.El-Hader 9:30 – Blue police are directing the traffic. We’re in the line of cars moving slowly on Road 60 towards Jerusalem. It seems like the police are allowing only the cars on Road 60 to pass through, and not those trying to make a turn from El-Hader to Road 60.Tunnels Checkpoint 9:40 – No inspection of cars.