Al Nashshash, Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Huwwara, Mon 16.11.09, Morning

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Observers: 
Chaya O., Ada G. (reporting)
Nov-16-2009
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Morning

07.00 AM, Bethlehem - Checkpoint 300:  four inspection stations are open, and there is a short queue at each of them. The people coming out are annoyed, because there is a lot of pressure on the Palestinian side, people have to wait for a long time and and the queue there doesn't move. The waiting hall is empty and for a period of about ten minutes not one person arrives. According to the Palestinians, both the humanitarian crossing and the regular one are opened (only) intermittently. In one of the inspection stations the female soldier, who is half lying-down and engaged in a long telephone conversation, radiates her contempt both for her work and also for the Palestinians passing through.
At 07.30 many people are still waiting outside.

07.40 AM, Chusan:

08.00 AM, Etzion DCL:  there are about twenty-five people waiting for magnetic cards to be issued and to receive various permits. 

 

08.30 AM, the northern entry to Halchul:  a week ago, the earthen barrier was broken-down and cars were able to pass. This week, a row of rocks has been put in place and once again cars cannot pass. Has the barrier been removed or not ? On the other side of the barrier, a pick-up truck belonging to the municipality is standing. Its driver says that the barrier will be opened after the road has been asphalted. Meanwhile, Road No 60 is being widened, and when this work is finished maybe the asphalting will be completed and the barrier will be opened.

On our way back, at the Nashshash cross-roads, Chaya photographs a yellow sign at the road-side : “Rabbi Kahana was right”. (Rabbi Kahana, an American Jew who immigrated to Israel in the 1960's, founded the far-right Kach political party, which advocated the expulsion of Arabs from Israel and the Palestinian territories - translator). We also see two Palestinians working in what is left of a small plot at the side of the road where a watch-tower has been erected. Two soldiers jump out of their jeep opposite Chaya and tell her that it is forbidden to photograph. Chaya gives an appropriate answer, and the soldiers then ask her if she is a left-wing Jew. She answers in the affirmative and adds “I am also a Zionist”.