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Jan-20-2004
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Bethlehem Tuesday afternoon, 20 Jan 2004 watchers: Y. S.(reporting), S. S We arrived at El Hader by way of Walaja and Mt. Gilo. A long and scenic route. At the checkpoints on that route all was quiet. At El Hader there has been quiet for 10 days now. DCO Etzion As we know, one must pass through the public toilets in order to enter. Now there is also an open sewer there. Disgusting. Despite the promises of Ilan Paz, head of the Civil Administrationinfo-icon, there is no improvement. There are no numbers for those waiting, no orderly line and there is no dignified manner to request a permit. Today there was nobody we could talk to and we were asked to go away as we are interfering. So someone who had a meeting with an Israeli lawyer was told to make his appointment three days after submitting the request, and those who were refused a magnetic card [documenting security clearance] were simply refused, and someone who wishes a permit to reach Jerusalem discovers that he can do everything by telephone and fax and there is no real reason to go to Jerusalem at all. There were fewer than 50 people requesting permits; three open windows throughout most of the shift. There are arguments about the place in line, shouting, and stench from the sewer. Welcome to Israel! In Bethlehem: routine as usual.