Bethlehem CP 300, Biet Jala, El Khadr, ETzion DCO

Wed. Dec. 8th 2004 AM Bethlehem CP 300 , Beith Jala, El Khadr and DCO Gush Ezion Observers: Rahel M. and Maya B.(reporting)Bethlehem CP 300: A soldier by the name of Yoav who said the Commander of the Checkpoint was busy with 4 detainies, did not let us get near the checkoint see or speak to the detainies. He claimed these were the new orders, which I seriosly doubt. But since we could not see the commander we continued to our next destination. Beit Jala: There the trafic moved without any interference, beyond the most basic check.El Khader No soldiers, just a lot of taxi drivers , who showed us three B.P. with a jeep down in the village square, who where checking some of the kids who were going to school near the intersection. Some of the kids, we were told, tried to throw stones at the soldiers, but were advised by the adults to cut it out.Etzion DCO: The windows, including the police one were open from 8 a.m. but with the usuall negative responses. Not one person asking for a magnetic card or a working permit got it. Nor was an identity card which had been illegally confiscated by a soldier on Sep. 6, 2004, at Sawarha was returned. Everyone was sent away and told to come back in a week, a month or who knows when. Everyone including a young woman with a 2 year old child who asked for a magnetic card and was told she was refused by the Shabak. It was simply surealistic. There is no serious consideration given to any request, except perhaps a hospital visit. We came away with the feeling that the whole DCO was just a fake illusion created to give the impression that people really have a chance to have their needs addressed. We have to keep on trying to get a more serious explanation how this DCO works.