Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Thu 27.8.09, Afternoon

14:10 PM, Etzion Liaison and Coordination Administration: when we arrived, the parking lot was filled with cars.  In the waiting hall there were a lot of people and a long line of men and women were crowded next to the first turnstile.They complained that the turnstile was not opening and that no one was being let in. A young man approached us who was ordered to come by the General Security Services and told us that he had been waiting since 10:00 in the morning. We wanted to speak with the soldier on duty but he was no at his post next to the window and did not answer our calls.We tried to telephone but our calls were not answered.  We called the Humanitarian Hotline and they promised to clarify why people waiting in line were not being let in. After several minutes the soldier appeared and the turnstile began to turn and the people waiting were able to go in.  

We approached the soldier about the young man waiting for the GSS since the morning and after a short time he called him and ordered him to enter. Relatives and other people who had come with the people who went in were still waiting in the hall. They waited a long time and none of the people came out. On the other hand other people began to arrive who wanted to go in, but the soldier had already left. We called the Humanitarian Hotline again and after a short time they announced to us that the soldier was at his post and dealing with the people waiting in line.We claimed that what they had been told was not true.They apparently called again and managed to talk with one of the commanders, who appeared next to the turnstile and let the people in.Those who had entered first began to come out.The woman who came out first told us that she had asked for an entry permit to Israel in order to attend a meeting at the Chilean embassy in Tel Aviv. Her mother was born in Chile and she wanted to obtain a Chilean passport.The Liaison and Coordination Administration refused to give her a permit, claiming that she was blacklisted.  An older man approached us with a request for us to advise him who to turn to in order to receive a building permit on his land in Area C near the separation fence. We tried to clarify what to do.We left close to 16:00.There were still many people inside.