DCO Bethlehem (Ezion)

El Khader and Bethlehem checkpoints, Etzion DCO, Sunday PM, 4 Jan 2004.MachsomWatchers: Y.S., S.S. Highlights: Detainees in El Khader; more of the same at the DCO. We set out at noon in order to get to the DCO early. We passed through El Khader at 12:40 and saw about ten Border Police detaining a few dozen Palestinians, most of them men of all ages. There were a few women with children, whom we weren't sure were actually being detained themselves or just waiting for their menfolk. As soon as we arrived, we were told (rudely) by the BP to move and stand 50 m. away from “their detainees.” We complied. We made a number of calls and spoke to Danny Israel (a police liaison office).Within a short time the IDs were returned and about 40 Palestinians were allowed to enter El Khader. The rest of the detainees were released by 13:30 except for two who were taken away in a police car to the army camp at Etzion.The BPs were very tense, but after we spoke with them there was an improvement in the relationship between us. Etzion DCO [civilian administration office]:A lot of tension and crowding today. There are two open windows:Window #1: for magnetic cards [security clearances], and Window #2: closed because of a computer problem. Everything moves very slowly. The police window is closed. We called the police liaison office. "there is only one police officer on duty there. The police window is (supposedly) open 5 days a week between the hours of 10 to 12 a.m." A proper notice in Arabic will soon be displayed.At 15:00, out of 160 people registered as waiting for service, only 80 were received. There is enormous pressure and arguments start on the line of those waiting. The people are received at the windows at the rate of one per ten minutes. People whose magnetic cards have not been renewed and are dependent on the GSS [ShaBa”K, Security Service) for approval are rejected. Their stories are hard. They are trapped though there are no actual charges against them. Even in cases where there are medical problems -- if the GSS is involved, there are no permits. We succeeded in helping in one case that involved a medical problem. We were able to secure, through Dalia Bassem, passage permits covering a range of dates for a woman with a health problem, so that she won’t have to return again and again to the DCO for permits (which are usually issued for a limited period, like a week at a time). Bethlehem checkpoint:Army officers are touring the area. Also a BP officer is there and vehicles move in both directions. Pedestrians pass through the path.On the side is a car with a religious Jew who curses us, spits at us and gets too close. A BP officer has him move away.