Bethlehem (300), Etzion DCL, Tue 15.1.13, Afternoon
Hospital pemits
14.50, Etzion DCL
as soon as we arrived in the very quiet parking lot, a woman approached us. She had just received a permit to go to a Jerusalem hospital for treatment tomorrow. She said that she has a heart problem for which she needs regular treatment. Each time she is allowed the permit only on the day preceding her treatment. She finds it very tiring to have to go through procedures two successive days and would so like to be able to get the permit at least two days in advance so that she could rest in between. Apparently this is ‘against the rules.’
Interestingly, she said that she prefers coming to the Etzion DCL, rather than the Palestinian one as she gets better treatment there. Some people of the PA staff are “abusive.” [her words]
Another woman was in a similar predicament. She has to take her baby
to Mokassed hospital on Thursday morning but was told to come again tomorrow (Wednesday) for the permit. However, when we phoned, a responsible-sounding soldier told her to go in again and he would check. She later left in a car without reporting back to us – we only hope this is a sign of success.