Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Thu 18.10.07, Afternoon

15.00 Ezyon DCL

The lobby is closed  (on Thursdays closing is at 13.00) but some people are standing behind, near the entrance to the GSS.   A man and his son tell us that the GSS has suggested that his son (who is denied entry into Israel)  have a chat with them…     
Two other Palestinians, from Bethlehem, introduce themselves as owners of horses and members of the Arab- horse-in-Israel association.   They had sent their horses to Kibutz Yif'at in order to take part in the Israel horse racing championship, on the 19^th & 20^th of October (tomorrow and the day after) and now they are trying to get a passage permit to reach the race.   The soldiers had told them to go to the Bethel offices but there they were sent to the DCL.

The soldiers here had refused to help those people but seeing us made them more cooperative and one of them even started to seek a solution. 

Meanwhile another Palestinian arrives; GSS excluded for 5 years, though  his whole family works in Israel.   He does not know the reason for his denial.   Silvia has been taking care of his case for at least a year and she also has no idea.   He had already applied for legal help.   He is used to come from time to time to ascertain the reason for his exclusion with no success, as he was doing today.   At the GSS he was “invited” to stay with them for a week  for a

“straight talk” and then “we shall see”… 

At 15.30 the sergeant, who had volunteered to help the horse-owners, returns and asks for their documents.   We stay with them and after ten minutes they receive their permits.

 There is another man who is waiting for permits but he does not need our help. 
 

1. Bethlehem CP 

Tough it is relatively early 200 people are already waiting outside, in two rows;  most of them are glad to see us and ask to hasten things (as if it were in our power…).

3 posts are open in the waiting hall.   In two of them, where one needs only to show his palm, only the documents are checked.   At the door members of a private security firm have taken the place of the border police.   We get in touch with the commander and request that he open another post.   We are told that the computer has stopped and hence this is not possible. 

At 16.30  some people arrive from the Bethlehem in the direction  of Jerusalem.   The third post in the passage to Bethlehem is closed and the other two posts continue to transfer people who come from Jerusalem.   In the opposite direction hand palms are also being checked, leading to considerable delay. 

Outside people are again organized in two queues and admitted inside in groups of 20.

From overheard telephone conversation we gather that the policemen are indeed worried and urge rapid solution to the computer problem.    

At 16.40  more Palestinians arrive and join the long queue outside.   Serious problems then start - much pushing and shoving.   The lines disappear and a large crowd of men, trying to get home, moves towards us.    The guards move the lady-guests who came with us back inside. 

At 16.45  No other people are allowed into the hall.  The guards close one of the doors and call the police.   The policemen shout and help to shove the crowd who threaten the guards outside.   A lot of noise.   All the people who came from Bethlehem and intended to reach Jerusalem can not leave.   In front of the door there are hundreds of men and there is no way for any one to leave.   The policemen call the computer center.  There is much shouting and warning that if this continues for another 15 minutes “measures will have to be taken”.  

The Palestinians are told : “no one will enter if pushing continues”.   The police talk to the guards and the latter again open the door and let about 150 people enter.  There is terrible pushing - people fall and lose their papers.   The door is closed.   The policemen begin to get nervous and shout;  they instruct the soldiers in the checking booths to pass through “as quickly as possible”.   They try to reduce tension.   One of them passes through 15 people in the direction of Jerusalem through the back door.   Our lady guests are requested to leave as well.   Both the Palestinians and the police give preference to women and allow them to pass through quickly.   Then once again the pressure from outside the hall increases and we begin to ask ourselves what will happen when it starts raining.    The queue of agitated men outside extends all the way to the buses.

In the meantime, 5 (out of 6) posts are open,  

At  17.05 things begin to calm down and the pressure decreases.   Outside the hall 15 people are waiting and 50 are inside.  The guards manage to organize orderly queues.

One of the posts is approached by a woman whose document had expired.   The police ordered to let her through nonetheless.   All 5  posts remain open.    

At  17.15  one check-post is closed.    The police order to let 4 posts remain open until 18.00.   Inside there are 10 people;  outside, small groups of 5-7 people approach spordically. 

At 17.20  we leave, convinced that today our presence and reporting were indeed important.