Etzion DCO: Even today the policeman did not come to work

Two details not really about the shift itself but of interest. We noticed on a previous shift that there was an archaeological dig near Elazar and saw a couple of Haredim running around there. Yesterday we again saw the latter on the road and drove in to see where the entrance was to the dig. I checked with a knowledgeable friend who sent me an article which  I have sent to Raya and evidently, as usual, the Haredim have the time to spend guarding the honour of the deceased and are planning an enormous demonstration in Jerusalem. Evidently a shock grenade was thrown which hit the car of of their more prominent rabbis.

We also investigated the development of the land near the DCO. This is we saw three rows parked on what looks like a landing strip. But this time there was a guard there (civilian) who explained to us that it is used as a parking area for people coming to Alon Shvut for an event. Also that is would be used a landing area. The question if for whom.  Those who parked  did not have to walk across the road  to the settlement as a bus was sent for them.  One wonders whose land this was. And  maybe another settlement is in mind?

We arrived to find a group of people waiting to go into the offices and calling for the soldier to open.  As soon as Shlomiet SMSed A(saf)  the turnstile opened and they all went in. Not long after A. and I(do) arrived in the hall and explained that there was a problem, that there were not enough soldiers and they would have to close early. We commented on the fact that there had been no notice last week and that maybe it was a good idea to put up a notice as we would not be there to inform people as to the situation. It was decided to put up a notice but there was a problem with pen and paper. So necessity is the  mother of invention and an old notice was taken down and we wrote on it in all three languages with the help of Google that the DCO  closed. A. also said that they would make an official notice to be used then necessary. Shlomiet also found sellotape with which to put the notice up.

People are this time were still coming in and both A. and I. spoke to them in Arabic and in  a very pleasant and polite manner. Some they sent through but a lady who wanted to pay a sum of money from her husband to an Israeli  and needed a form was told to come back the next day as, of course, there no policeman on duty.

We spoke to a contractor who had come with his employee. He had arranged the necessary permit but when the man came to the checkpoint he was told that he was “prevented”.

Again the case of a man who finished working with one employer and now had wished to work for someone else but was still registered with the previous man. Not the first time that this has happened.