Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Sun 17.5.09, Morning

7:00 AM, Bethlehem CP 300: two booths are open; the crossing is almost finished; there are still lines in the exit hall, but these are the last ones to cross. Besides one worker whose permit had been taken away last week, things went "well" today. However, when Sylvia was trying to explain to the person without a permit what to do, two of the security company's guys appeared and went about their job aggressively. First one of them explained to the other that "they were ordered not to talk to these Watch women", then the same one explained to the woman soldier "these women just bother us, they "side with them" and the temperature went up. The woman soldier then asked the security people to "shove those whores outside". We complained.

7:25 The whole place had emptied out.

7:50 AM, Etzion DCL: very few people as has been the case lately. There was a by-now "routine" case of a man whose permit was still valid having it taken away from him at the Jaba checkpoint this morning. He is 39 years of age and has four children, a wife, and a mother to take care of. We call and find out the permit was not valid (blacklisted). His employer in Jerusalem appointed a lawyer to look into the case, he tells us later. Another young man is crestfallen when we find out for him that he is also blacklisted. We tell him to find an employer.

ADDENDUM TO LAST WEEK'S REPORT: The terrible situation prevailing two weeks ago on Tuesday/Wednesday 5/6 May was caused in at least one case by shooting. This piece of information comes from people who were there. There was shooting at the workers (or in the air) in the exit hall. The whole terminal was then closed for two hours and no one could get through. The case was not reported in the media.