Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Mon 23.11.09, Afternoon

14:00 PM, Etzion DCL: it's long since we last saw such alarge crowd in the waiting hall. Some 28 people were waiting there, telling us thatthey were there for a long time. Five had been summoned to the Shabak, none forthe police – a notice stating that the police would be absent both today andtomorrow had been posted at the entrance. We inquired as to why people weren'tlet in and the soldier at the entrance replied: "it's full inside". Awoman who had just emerged from within told us that there were only four peoplethere. We called Nir, Rawi's substitute, who courteously promised to attend tothe matter. Over an hour went by but nothing happened, no one was admitted.

15:10: Finally the soldier started admittingthose waiting. He blurted out that the delay was caused by the failure of theID card printer. Inquiring why the cause hadn't been explained to the waitingcrowd, he said he didn't know Arabic. "So why didn't you ask us totranslate?" The reply: "I don't have to talk to you."

A person seeking a permit to enter Jerusalem in order to pay his daughter aholiday visit (the Muslim holiday starts this coming Friday) was told thatthese permits were still unavailable and wasn't told when they would be. By16:00 most people had been attended to, even the Shabak invitees. Nir called usin a goodwill tone.