Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Tue 20.10.09, Morning
6:45 AM, Bethlehem - Rachel's Crossing: according to testimony of people exiting, the number waiting at the first entry is very large. Inside, we found five stations functioning, but the rate was very slow and the lines are thin. We did not succeed in clarifying what had happened for mostly at this hour there are almost no queues.
A woman soldier in the position behaves rudely to the transients. Her requests for ID or placing a palm are made in Hebrew, and whoever does not understand her language she repeats with crude shouts. The soldier at the last position is just like her. He makes use of his hat to hit whoever stands in front of him. We complained to one of the security guards and he turned to the soldier: his authority did help. Another security guard heard our complaint and we saw him enter the offices and come out briskly in the direction of the entrance to the checkpoint. Immediately thereafter a big flow of people came to the front positions.
07:45 AM, Etzion DCL: small number of people. On the door an announcement that the DCL is closed on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday except for humanitarian services and verification of palm prints.
There were two requests of us: the one was a repeated approach from a man who is told at the checkpoint that he is blacklisted. To clarify which body is blacklisting, he must come to the DCL and wait for good days when there is a policeman or some other source of information. On the face of it, this is empty harassment, but what can be done about it?