Beit Ummar, Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Nabi Yunis, Mon 28.3.11, Morning
07.10 am, Bethlehem - Checkpoint 300: the situation in the checkpoint this morning is extremely bad, the crossing takes a long time, and people have been waiting for hours. In the hall one can hear the noise of many people waiting outside.
Three inspection stations are open, but there are hardly any people in front of them, they are not allowed to pass, everyone is angry, on edge and hurrying.
We telephone the officer in command and he tells us that the crossing is not his responsibility, but the police’s – but the policeman is not in the area. In the meantime, our telephone calls don’t help.
08.00 am, Etzion DCL: about 30 people are waiting. The officer distributes queue numbers according to a list prepared by the Palestinians.
The weekly incident : a young-looking man approaches us and tells us that he cannot get an entry permit to go to a hospital, because he is on the GSS - denied list. It appears that the young man lost an eye in Hebron when he was 14 years old some years ago, due to a soldier’s fire, perhaps a rubber bullet. He sued the army and the case, which took years, resulted in the army being ordered to pay him damages. In the meantime, he often has to go for treatment to the eye hospital on the Mount of Olives, but he cannot get an entry permit. We ask Hannah for help. Is this a case of “An eye for an eye “ ?
08.30 am, Beit Ummar: the soldiers at the entrance prevent people from waiting as usual. The barrier at the entrance has been lowered.
09.00 am, Nabi Yunis: only a few people come for help today. This has been a short shift.