Shekh SaedMonday, 12.06.2006, PMYael S., Judy O.Y. and A. (accompanied us) Thanks to our “escorts” we were able to understand something of the impossible situation in which 1200 people live in this place – so near and yet so far.15:30 – we arrived at the outskirts of the village where two B.P’s stopped both cars and asked for ID’s and driving licences! After these had been checked and after noting the name of the soldier – they let us pass. We continued to the place where the BP’s were stationed in the middle of the only way through Shekh Saed – the only way out of the village.We spoke for quite a while with a number of the residents who stood near the “grounded” cars near the boulders which block the way from the village to Jabel Mukaber (but this is united Jerusalem…) There were stories about the way to Zeitim CP – there is something like a path that leads down in the direction of a rough track that leads to another narrow dirt road. As we were standing there a 4×4, looking as if it would overturn, managed to reach the top. And in fact, not far away there was a car that had overturned in the attempt to reach the village.We tried to check the routes of entry and exit to the village – we didn’t find any. On the one hand, as mentioned, the main road is blocked by boulders and the tent of the BP, and the other side is completely unpassable. And there is a price for this! That morning as a result of an accident, two fingers of a young woman with an orange ID. were cut. It took a long time (about an hour) till she was taken over to the clinic 50 metres out of the enclosed village situated in an open area of Jerusalem, and from there she was taken for treatment to a hospital in Jerusalem.”Every day there are one or two emergencies” the owner of the clinic told us. When they deal with such Palestinian patients they don’t only lose money…There is absolutely no possibility for a rescue vehicle to enter the village within a reasonable time – because if , for instance, a fire engine were to leave from Zeitim CP it would take two hours to reach the village!!Hand grenades continue to be thrown every day – on that day it was between 8 and 10 in the morning.”We are going backwards instead of forwards”, said one of the residents.In the village, there are a number of people with Downs Syndrome who study in Jerusalem – they leave the village, get to the checkpoint and then they are picked up and taken to Alyn in Jerusalem.The case of the village is in the Supreme Court – The Civil Administration is forbidden to give permits to the residents of the village.In conclusion, before we left the area, someone who works at the above – mentioned clinic near the village,approached us – he has a permit but he is forbidden to return through the BP position, 50 metres from where he works – and in order to reach work legally he must endanger himself at the only exit the “no road” (described above) in order to get to Zeitim CP (two hours) and from there to travel another hour to the clinic!! And this, twice a day.