Bethlehem, Fri 7.5.10, Morning

9:05-10:35 am, Bethlehem - Checkpoint 300: the entire space (without barriers) is open,three positions are open.

No lines, people crossing uneventfully.  Now and then voices are heard from the other side, then silence again. 

In recent times the team manning the checkpoint keeps changing, and every week we see a different set of soldiers and commanders.  The commander's influence is of course significant.  The conduct of this week's commander was totally inappropriate. 

For starters: he addressed us arrogantly, said we were forbidden to be there. 

"We're here every week" we explained quietly.

"You're not allowed to sit here [we were sitting on an abandoned flower-pot]; go stand next to the entrance door."  "We'll stand" we said, "but we'll stand here."

The argument continued for a while, and after we asked for his identifying details he turned around and left.

Later when we sat down again, a voice from the loudspeaker ordered us to stand. 

The upshot: he performed a humiliating imitationof a Palestinian with a speech defect who uttered slurred sounds and gesticulated in anger and despair when he was forbidden to cross to Bethlehem with a load of bags full of empty packaging materials. 

Finally a border policeman came up to get rid of him.  To our question why the man was not allowed to go to Bethlehem the policeman replied that the man had several files regarding attacks on policemen.  But the Palestinian persisted, mimicking his obstinate demand to cross.  Finally his permit was checked and his crossing allowed. The entire performance was contemptuous and infuriating.