Etzion DCO: A new road only for settlers

10.30 - 12.00  

 I will start on a personal note. Every time we go to Gush Etzion I feel my blood pressure rising as I see the fast progress of the new road for the settlers with all the vehicles and people who are engaged on this project. When I compare it to the snail pace of work on  the light train here in Jerusalem going towards Hadassah I am furious. If you see two vehicles and six people anywhere along the line you know that by the time it is completed we will probably be travelling in helicopters. The only hope is that maybe the occupation will be ended but I am not holding my breath.    

There were three cars when we arrived and 10 people waiting but they went inside at once.   

 A man from Jerusalem came with two of his friends. Once again they had been refused entrance at the checkpoint and invited so politely by telephone to the Israel Security Agency . So open sesame. We gave them Sylvia’s details.    

Another man had paid all his fine and we explained as always that he had to wait until it disappeared from the computer.    

A man had had two of his vehicles confiscated. There is a new lady called Malak who is working in Leap instead of Amanda who has gone on to pastures new. The man said that when he had the same problem about a month ago, he had phoned Leap (legal aids for Palestinians) which had not helped him. We asked how it had been resolved and if he had paid a fine. He said he had not paid anything but a month later he had been told to come and get the vehicles. It sounds a bit strange to us but he did not choose to explain. Leap was not answering but later Malak herself got back to us and gave us her number for our personal use. She said in that case to take their details and phone number and send it to her. A very pleasant lady.