Etzion DCL

Nothing changes except the weight of the occupation on the Palestinians. 

The sewage flows happily along. The women's toilet remains locked.

A soldier accompanying an electrician was very obliging to an elderly man who was waiting to go into the offices. He phoned the soldiers inside who opened the turnstyle. Which shows it can be done if a soldier acts as a human being.

Several men came with documents proving that they owned the land, and this was an absolute confusion of non-information. The first man came back to say that the land office was closed. Another man was told that he had to go to Beit El. Then some were told that they had to go to Uzi who, it seems, is in charge of this department in Hebron.  Some were told that he would be there this Thursday, others next Thursday. Others were told that he would only be there in a month's time as a new office was being built and the office at Etzion is now closed. But there was no problem telling the Palestinians to go to Hebron now. One wonders how much of all this "information" is because as we have seen, in other places, soldiers have no idea of what the orders are. For example, at the container, when the woman commander thought that we were standing in area A. Or is it just to make life as difficult as possible for the Palestinians. 

One man complained that that it is not enough that they have documents. They have to prove with witnesses that the land is theirs. That they are the legitimate heirs. They have to get, as one said, about 250 family members to confirm this. That of course it not enough. They have to prove that the land had been their grandfather's.

One man had to bring the land registry office  document from Jordan!!

One man had built a home for his son as Sa'ir which is now in danger of being demolished. He has various documents to prove the land is his, but the documents were in Arabic and some also from the Civil Administration. His wife had died of cancer, he has cancer and he says he is too poor to go to Beit El. We gave him the name of Kamar, a lawyer who works with the Rabbis for Human Rights.

A woman soldier accompanied an electrician and was friendly, told us that she was from "building" and is a major. 

Shlomit says the occupation is having a good time. But at least the two soldiers we met were friendly and helpful.