Morning

DCO Etzion Observers: M.B., T.G., Ts.G. 09:00-11:00 a.m.:The entry to the DCO was different today after having been closed for two days for renovations. In the passageway from the fiberglass hut (waiting room at the entry to the building) to the counters, demarcations were placed and the passageway was through a revolving gate. In these new circumstances, the approach to the counter is even more difficult and degrading, and reminds one of the routes that animals go through to their feeding troughs.In front of the counters is a "sterile area", free of Palestinians, so that the overcrowding of those waiting will be at a distance from the soldiers who must deal with them. Access for disabled people is impossible in such circumstances.From time to time, one of those in charge calls out the name of the next in line through the gate, but in the noise of the crowds assembled there, it is impossible to understand what he says, and the frustration and anger is apparent. When we arrived, there were about 50 or 60 people. The Palestinians reported that there were 120 registered that morning. It is possible that some of them left out of desperation. From 9:30, only 25 people went in. It was not possible to see if the other counters were open. The police counter was in operation, as was the counter giving out magnetic cards. Of the 25 people that got to the counter, it was not possible to know how many actually got an answer to their requests. We concentrated on specific incidences, and asked the Palestinians why they were here. 400 grape plants near the Etzion checkpoint on Hwy 60 were uprooted. Ali was heartbroken when he arrived to complain about the tractors that arrived with soldiers yesterday (10 Dec 2003) at 11:00 a.m., uprooted his and his cousin's 400 vines in the area near the Etzion checkpoint, on the eastern side of the road. Ali and his uncle own four dunams. Without any warning or explanation, the tractors overturned the soil and uprooted the vines. He was shocked, because the area lies on the side or the road, and it was unclear why they destroyed that area.Apparently, it was done in the course of the work to widen the road, Afterwards, those on guard photographed the place. The vines were totally destroyed. In contrast, right alongside this, a magnificent new plaza is being built for the convenience of travelers on Hwy. 60. It is possible that they are paving another route in an eastern direction. It is worth following up on this.Ali tried to get some satisfaction from the DCO officers, but he said that they were not able to deal with him. We tried to direct this matter to Nadav, division commander at Etzion. He sent us back to Jamal at the DCO who is responsible for planning. I passed on details of this matter to Nimrod at B'tselem. Passage permits to the universityThe young man with whom we spoke (no name) is a dental student at Al Quds university in Abu Dis. He lives in Zaatra (south of Bethlehem), and must pass through the Nokdim checkpoint and the Sawahre checkpoint to get to classes. Although he has all the necessary permits from the university, he must have a student's pass permit in order to cross through the checkpoints on a daily basis. If there is a closure in Bethlehem, he must go roundabout (several extra kilometers). Even if he gets the student pass which gives him the right to go through, a policeman at the checkpoint can nevertheless send him back for no reason. (That is in contradiction to the announcement which the army spokesperson gave regarding passage on the Wadi Naar road.) Refusal to grant magnetic cardsThere is a police complaint against D.H.. Therefore, he cannot get a magnetic card. From what Nadav, division commander at Etzion told us that same day, whoever's name appears on the computer is not allowed to get a magnetic card, which is a prerequisite for getting a permit to pass. There is no reason to explain the refusal whose reason could minimal or even acquaintance with (recent or from the distant pass) someone who is wanted by the Security Service. When we left the place, Azhar Gannem, who is responsible for granting permits at the DCO, saw us. He stood with his back against the building of the DCO with several of his assistance and shouted in Arabic over the heads of people to the Palestinians who were lined up (the performance was meant for us) "Go in, go in, beautiful, ya-allah, go in, go in" And like a vendor in an open air market shouted "PERmit, PERmit, PERmit!> Only the price wasn't mentioned.