EtzionDCO, Bethlehem Cp 300

Bethlehem--thurs. Dec. 30,04 PMObservers: Eva P., Nurit S. (reporting)shift lasted from 3pm to 5:30pmEtzion DCO: When we arrived (at about 3:15) there were three men waiting for permits in the waiting room. They said that their permits were ready and did not understand why they had to wait. We asked the soldier on the roof. He was responsive. Eventually it turned out that they were waiting for Ahzar to sign the permits. Soon after this exchange they did, indeed get their permits. A father of a mongoloid child who had undergone eye surgery and needed to be followed up in Mukased was also waiting their and complained about having to spend a day at the DCO each time he had to take his son into JErusalem for his medical follow up. This man showed us a card that identified his grandfather as a man who saved about 7 or 8 Jews during the Hebron riots in the 30s. He was another person who didn't understand why we can't live happily together.We took his details and promised to find out if there was a way to help him.Etzion CP: unmannedEl Khader: the usual bustle, we saw no BP or other military persence.Beit Jalla: A new group of soldiers there who didn't know who we were. They did not stop anybody from entering Beit Jalla, but turned away quite a few vehicles that tried to pass from Beit Jalla into what they defined as Israeli territory.Tunnel CP: traffic flowingBethlehem CP 300: very nice, all lit up for christmas, Eva calls it the "Champs Ellysee". Nothing unusal. We met a woman there who told us that her husband had disappeared 13 yrs. ago (she believes he was murdered by the Hamas) and that she has been left with no means of support. It was a strange and convoluted story. She has teen age twins (she showed us photos). But in any case, we took her phone number and promised to try to get her some help. Anybody who has clothes, furniture (she says she needs a frig, mattresses, clothes) is very welcome to contact me and I shall try to get them over to her.