Etzion DCO, Wallje

Bethlehem, Etzion, Wallaje, Sunday January 23, AM Observers: Ilana D, Chana A (reporting)We go out "late" by our standards, but on this last day of the Eid, there is nothing much going on at the CP's. Bethlehem CP is deserted and we go straight for the Etzion DCL.7:55 Etzion DCL: we are among the first ones there, but within a few minutes, the place fills up. The first two windows are opened at 8:05, but it turns out that most people need window #1, the one dealing with magnetic cards. During the time we were there we requested twice for more windows to be opened up, but were told there was only one machine producing the cards, so NO WAY.There is a scribbled note in Hebrew that the Police will be there only at 15:00 today. The same info in Arabic seems to be lacking, so that we are the ones to inform everyone on that, even though there is a profusion of little scribbled notices in Arabic taped to the windows. After a long stretch of being ignored by the - mostly male- public waiting, we are approached by one fellow who shows us his paid (40 shekels) application for a magnetic card. It says in Hebrew: Manoo'a Shabak (refused by the Shabac), or GSS refused. What to do, he asks, and Ilana gives him the phone number of Firas of ACRI. This is followed by more requests and copying of the phone number. When all requests seem to have been filled, we leave at 9:15. 9:45 Wallaje. We go to Ilana's contact, Mustafa, in Wallaje and are received by a mini-council warming themselves at the stove in a new fangled office-like space next to the sumptuous palace built on the right side of the main road into the village. We tell the men assembled (Only an extended family representation) that the Wallaje and other Jerusalem land grabbing projects were spelled out in a long article in Ha'aretz over the weekend and that we hoped this would make a dint. They seem to be well connected to Israeli lawyers, including Arab Israeli ones, as well as other well placed luminaries in Israel (one of the family is part of the Peres Center), so that on the strategic level MW has little to offer. Since there seems to reign an absolute media silence (except for aforementioned newspaper) on the issue, I suggest we plan something in the public sphere (a demonstration!!) so as not to let the issue die.