Bethlehem Cp 300, El Khadr, Etzion DCO

Bethlehem Nov. 29, 2004 AMObservers: Diana H., Michal B. (reporting) Ilit R. Netanya G. A stormy shift, especially near El Khadr: massive BP presence, detentions and arrests.Bethlehem CP 300 - 6:45 Relatively sparse traffic. A group of about 20 detainees under the carob tree waiting for "the check-up to finish". The line moves slowly. Several people - women and children too - are sent back. We are requested to move away from the CP and not to interfere. When we ask what the criteria for entry are, we're told that only holders of permits are allowed in. A contractor who came to collect his workers complains that even though he has obtained permits for the workers, the soldiers claim that they are invalid, and refuse the workers entry. When we left, the detainees were still waiting in the cold.Al Hadr - 7:15-10:00 2 BP jeeps at the entrance. Taxis are not allowed to enter and are told to leave the area. About 50 men stand there helpless, waiting for the check-up to be over; they've been waiting for half an hour. The BP soldiers explain that they detain men from specific places: Bethlehem, Al Hadr, Bet Jalla et al. (almost the entire area). We are requested to move away and not talk to the detainees. They have just erected a checkpoint and within that area, we are supposed to follow orders. The detainees can be kept for up to 3 hours. The processing is slow. A middle aged doctor tries to impress on them that he is a physician and his services are needed. Furiously he mutters in English: Some human rights. Not even animal rights... Diana tries to check with DCO and other army units. Either they don't answer or they don't know what's going on. The people are still waiting. An army reinforcement arrives. More people are detained and the frustration mounts. At 8:45 we split: the two of us go to DCO, Diana and Ilit remain in Al Hadr. After 2 hours almost all the detainees are released, only 8 are remanded. It is not clear where they are taken. A UN vehicle arrives with a couple. They tell the soldiers that a man who works for them has been detained and they want to know where he is taken. The soldiers respond that they cannot give them any information. Diana makes some phone calls trying to find out where the detainees are taken. After calling area commanders, BP officers, the division HQ, we still have no clue. Frustrated, we take our leave of the UN people. Later, after much insistence, we find out from one "good soul" at DCO that the detainees are in Ezion.DCO Etzion - 8:45-9:15 Very few people present. All the petitions are denied (even for family unification) or the people are told to come back in 3 or 7 days. The police window was open but there too only annoying bureaucratic answers were given.