Bethlehem and Surrounings, Wednesday morning, 26.4.2006Observers: Rina R. (reporting) Drora P. Driver Yoska M.Rachel’s crossing: 6.50The soldiers claimed that we were not allowed to stand where the cars exit and so we went to the area where pedestrians exit and taxi-drivers wait for them. There were few people because of the closure. We spoke to two people who work for the Greek patriarch in East Jerusalem. One of them is married to a woman who lives in Jordan and for the past 5 years she has not received permission to visit him in Bethlehem. His only choice is to lose a day of work and go to visit her. Another worker has a magnetic card but because of the closure cannot get a permit to go in.7.25 Beit Jala: No soldiers and no people.7.30 El Khadr: Many taxis but few people from Bethlehem. No soldiers only police directing traffic at the crossroads. 8.30 DCO Ezyon: We met a man who for years has had a magetic card and lives with his family in Beit Zefafa. For the past year he has not been allowed a magnetic card and cannot see his family. He has a lawyer in Jerusalem but cannot get to him because he has no permit. An awful situation. There are many people and one man is trying to make some kind of order. People have been waiting since 2.00 in the morning for their place in line and most want a magnetic card and the window takes 4 people to an hour. And so after a few hours people are told to come back the next day. Some of them have come to get permits of entry and even though there is someone who is supposed to deal with them they have to wait together with everyone else. After we speak to Ayal of the DCO we are promised that we will call them in a while. It was hard to communicate with Ayal as he says that Machsomwatch women bombard him with requests and he is doing his best. Drora adds :Ayal said: “I will only answer to one woman of Machsomwatch and not to all of them privately.” With Sylvia’s help we contacted Yael who concluded the matter with him the previous day and reported the situation to the network. Yael has sent him a letter of our complaints by e-mail.