Bethlehem WEdnesday,Mar. 1, 06 AMObservers: Judith S., Idit N. (reporting)0645 Bethlehem (CP300):The people we meet outside tell us that unlike most days today theygot through within 10 minutes. We manage to position ourselves at theentrance out of reach of the cold wind and unlike other times do notget told to leave. We Notice men coming out still undoing belts andshoes. One of them explains with an embarrassed smile that its a dailyoccurrence- he is used to it…another tells us that it is all ourdoing…and when we ask for details assuming it will be about thehardship etc – he congratulates us and explains that the short waittoday is thanks to us (!) Several others make similar comments and wewonder if someone on the other side has praised us….very unexpected.If only we were as convinced that our presence has anything to do withthe pace this morning.On the way back to the car the officer in charge approaches us andgreets us (yes we are surprised too) and asks if there was anythingunusual and wishes us a pleasant day (surely he has undergone somesort of customer care training…)0710 El Kader:The place is heaving with taxis and we make our way through thestalls. Unlike on previous visits no one approaches us with anythingpressing but when we stand at the end of the stalls area many greet uswith smiles and good wishes. 0ne taxi driver greets us with a warm’welcome’ and we are offered a cup of tea by one of the sellers.Nothing unusual and no presence of Border Police – maybe that’s whyeveryone is smiling..0745 DCO EzyonMany people hanging around not knowing where to go. The work on thenew reception area seems to have been completed but none of thewindows are manned. We approach the Shin Gimel and ask who peopleshould turn to explaining that many of them were told to come at thebeginning of the month. He reluctantly calls the police rep to comedown and offers I contact the army officer in charge. The police repis not in a helpful mood and the officer I manage to get on the phonetells us with a firm bordering on rude tone, that it could takeanother two weeks or more until anyone gets seen and that untilfurther notice ‘they’ should not come. He is adamant that the PA hasbeen notified and is very rude about the people needing help andwanting at least to get a clearer idea of the time scale. As done onprevious occasions we suggest they hang up signs with telephonenumbers and information but he is not willing to consider this basicand simple temporary solution. A very frustrating end to the sunnymorning. We decide to check if a letter of complaint can be senthigher up- this DCO could be closed for a while longer and the numberof people in dire need of the various documents is rising daily.