Al Nashshash, Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Nabi Yunis, Mon 21.12.09, Morning
07:00 AM, Bethlehem - Checkpoint 300: people pass through the exit hall within a few minutes, but there is alot of crowding inside, and people say that they have been waiting since 05.00 AM. Four computer stations are in operation. In one of them the female soldier receives people while lying back on her chair, showing her legs to the passers-by; Chaya photographed her.The female soldier calls to the guards from the security company (to protest our interference), who tell her that they can’t take any action against us, and they call the police-officer (for help). Meanwhile, we have a conversation with one of the the security guards, who can’t understand what we are complaining about. In answer to our question what would he do if a clerk were to behave to him like the female soldier he replied “I would bash her head with my wireless-set”. The conversation ends when the security guard asks us “whose side are you on, them or us?”. We don’t have time to answer because the police office arrives and the security guards move away. The police-officer, Itsik Zerihan, calls the female soldier to order, and tells her to sit properly while doing her job. However this has no effect on her. Afterwards, the police-officer tries to persuade us by various means to erase the photograph. First he claims that this is a (closed) military area and it is therefore forbidden to photograph in it, then he claims that there is an agreement with Machsom Watch not to take photographs, and finally he claims that he did us a favour by calling the female soldier to order and therefore we should do him a favour by erasing the picture. The representative of the civil-administration says that he has no authority over what takes place in the checkpoint. Chaya also lodges a complaint with the humanitarian office. 08.30 AM, Etzion DCL: only three people are waiting inside. Nabi Yunis, Al Nashshash: in Nabi Yunis and Al Nashshash we meet people who ask for help with various police-related matters.