Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Sun 14.9.08, Afternoon

    14.25 PM,  Etzion DCL:  About thirty people were waiting in the waiting hall. There were about fifteen more inside the DCL. By 14.30, we estimated that sixty people at most had received magnetic cards, an average of thirteen minutes per card. 15.00 : By questioning those leaving the DCL, it became clear that some of those who didn't receive (queue) numbers could also have been dealt with, but that there wasn't enough time for all of them to have been processed. - twenty more at the most. I suggested that those who had a work or trading permit should be given priority so that they could return to earning their living as quickly as possible. My proposal was accepted, and Nevuani came out and distributed numbers to those who had a valid permit. Of course, those who did not have a permit were very annoyed about this and by the fact that we interfered with their queuing arrangements. 16.20 : Shlomit estimated that it was possible for five more of the people waiting to be received - they had been waiting for the whole day. Three of them who were waiting for magnetic card renewal were allowed to enter, and the last two were sent away, together with us, by an officer and his assistant, who closed the doors at 17.00. Altogether, a hundred and three magnetic card applications were processed (including finger-print renewal, new card issues or those who had been refused because of security denials). I estimate that about ten Palestinians were refused during the whole day.