Bethlehem Cp 300

BEthlehem--Thurs.Dec. 9,04-PMObservers:Gili K. Maya M (reporting)4-6PMBethlehem CP 300--The CP was manned by Border POlice. There were between 20 to 25 detainees. All were workers with green ID who were not allowed to return to Bethllehem and the surrounding villages. All were caught in a manhunt the police carried out in Gilo and were brought to the CP and detained for 2-4 hrs. (according to the detainees).The commander of the CP held them all until the investigation of all of them was complete rather than one at a time, when each investigation was completed. All were asked to sign a form (a copy is attached) and some were taken for interrogation in a special room.The behavior of the police was not violent or abusive,but the detainees had to suffer an unneccessary long wait. It seemed that it could have been possible to conclude the procedure in one quarter the time.Among the detainees wa a Jewish taxi driver from Holon who had driven two Palestinians. One of the Palestinians was a construction worker and the other a neighbor who went to Holon to collect discarded old things he hoped to sell. He had a suitcase on wheels that seemed to be full of old clothes and was carrying an old radio. The driver was investigated and told that his driver's lisence is suspended for one month and apparently he will have to pay fine. The fellow who collected old things, who was relatively old, was released with the other workers, but the construction worker was arrested.We got the full name and ID number of the arrested man and his phone numbers and notified the Center for the DEfense of the Individual (the moked) and also called his wife in Yatta to let her know that he was arrested. He was taken to the Russian Compound. Because of the week end the DCO is closed and we were told at the Moked they will contact him and follow up on him only on Sunday.WE were very impressed with the man who was arrested, who works in construction and also studies Economics at the University. He maintained a calm and dignity throughout this procedure that moved us deeply.