CP 300, Rachel’s Tomb, Al Khadr, Hussan and DCO Etzion

BEthlehem and surroundings: Tues. Jan. 11,05 PMObservers: Yael I. and Ilana D. (reporting)From 13:30 till 17:30 All the Christmas decorations are still up on the way to the Bethlehem CP 300. Whoever hasn't seen them: It's a sight!! We spotted a number of people walking in the Tantur compound. We were able to proceed all the way to where the soldiers are stationed and saw no detainees and as we remarked to each other that we had not been this far for a long time, we were asked to move back. A few cars were waiting, but they were overtaken by an Egged bus on its way to Rachel’s Tomb. We asked the driver of a mini-bus, which serves only Rachel’s Tomb, whether he could take us and he agreed (price 2½ Sh. each), stating that we would have to return with an Egged bus half an hour later. We were tempted and boarded the special vehicle, donated by Jews from Paris. It is protected and reinforced, not only on the sides but also on the roof (it weighs 7 tons). It is a very short ride, but unfortunately due to the extra-security plates we were unable to see much. The bus stopped between two high walls and protected by Nachal soldiers with drawn rifles we got off and were ushered behind a heavy metal door (which was locked behind us) into a kind of bunker (built around and over the original building) with a long corridor, slightly reminiscent of the entrance to the Shrine of the Book, but not as esthetic. The place and the street leading to it with shops with drawn shutters and Israeli flags on every roof didn’t look at all like a couple of years ago. At the end of the corridor men and women are directed into different rooms. There were about twenty women standing and praying in front of a cloth-covered wall (the tomb). Our presence did not disturb them. We hoped to be able to look outside a little before the arrival of the bus, but were not allowed out of the building through the heavy metal door. Meanwhile our bus driver returned to collect a number of ultra-religious VIP's. who all spoke Yiddish. Since there is only ‘protected’ space for one bus, we had to wait until they had left and reached the CP before the Egged bus could proceed to pick us and the other visitors up under the watchful eyes of six Nachal soldiers. It was the 1st of the Jewish month, therefore the bus was almost full. We counted nine vehicles on the Southern side of the CP, but needless to say, we proceeded without any delay and were let off smack in the middle of the CP (the ride back cost 2.80 Sh.).Al Khadr was crowded and busy and we saw no army or BP. Across the road at the closed off entrance to Hussan schoolchildren were walking over the earth mounds. A truck with yellow number plates was loading oxygen containers onto a truck with Palestinian plates heading for Hebron. A BP-jeep approached to watch the procedure. We continued to check whether the Western entrance to Hussan was blocked, but it was open.Large crowds awaited us at the Etzion DCO. Despite the fact that three windows and the police were open and five people were allowed in at the time, nothing seemed to move and indeed we were told that the same people had been in front of the windows for almost an hour. Azhar was in a meeting and Motti was not in the office. The computer apparently was down. A woman who has a son with CF usually gets a permit for three months to remain all night with her child in Hadassah. Motti had promised her an extension, but since he was not there, Azhar claimed he was unable to give it to her. She told us that recently the boy had been hospitalized for nine days at a cost of 17,000 Shekels. The young lady we had met last week came running in. She told us that Motti had actually called her the night before to inform her that her permit to fly from Ben Gurion airport was awaiting her. Nevertheless she spent almost an hour pleading with the soldiers, the computer was still down. But around 5:00 PM the crowds began to dwindle and some magnet cards were actually issued. But the permits for merchants are still awaiting approval from the Minister of Defense. A student from abroad who had come home for the holidays and needed a permit to leave (his ticket was for to-morrow) was sent back empty-handed and was told to apply two weeks before his departure. A few men, married to Israeli girls, asked us re family unification. A man, who has temporary residence status, since he lives with his Israeli wife in Jerusalem and had to extend his Id. every six months, had been told before it lapsed that he can only collect his renewed permit after the old one has expired. The Ministry of the Interior had OK-ed the renewal, but apparently the copy had not yet reached the DCO. The soldiers first told him to wait, but then wanted to send him off (to his parents in Bethlehem, since he cannot enter Israel) without trying to solve his problem. He was angry and disappointed, but also very verbal and convincing. We called Azhar on his behalf and he really tried to be as helpful as possible. He promised to call the Ministry of the Interior in the morning and if unable to issue a 6-months residency permit, he would at least grant one for a week to enable the man to settle the matter. At that point the soldiers were about to leave and no more people were waiting in the cold.