Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Wed 26.5.10, Afternoon
14:00 pm, Etzion DCL: similarly to our experiences a week and two weeks ago, at the DCL waiting hall there were several young people summoned to a meeting with the Shabak. They had arrived on time for their appointments, their documents were taken, but no one had seen them since. It was a matter of long hours that they were waiting. We phoned and requested to remind the Shabak that these men were waiting for long. Surprise: a voice was heard over the loudspeaker. Someone called out to the waiting group to approach the rear gate. They ran over and were out of our sight since.
We had already filed a complaint several years back regarding the Shabak's custom to compel people to wait at these remote DCLs for hours at a time. They can't leave the area since their documents were taken, there is no option of purchasing food in the area and, in short, there is no excuse for this sort of punishment.
16:00 pm, Bethlehem - Checkpoint 300: merely two checking posts were functioning although this was the time when the workmen arrive in multitudes. The response to our inquiry was: there were no soldiers available. Nevertheless, a girl soldier was located and she approached another post, but alas, the computer wouldn't cooperate. Once the pressure grew, a police officer came by and opened yet another post and rapidly let the people through.