Bethlehem

Halhul, Nebi Yunis, Etzion, and Al
Khadr

Observers: HA,HR,HA

It was a lovely morning between the fall vineyards, and we went to
the Northern closure of Halhul from where we went by bus and taxi
in the direction of Al Khadr.

Last Friday, the permit of 8 buses out of 16 that were allowed to
travel during the month of Ramadan expired. The permit of the rest
of the buses will end in two days. The manager of the bus company
already stood in line at the DCO in Hebron for two days to renew
the permits. In the evening of the second day, he managed to get to
the counter, and renewed the permits of just three buses.

We heard about this from the drivers at Halhul who asked for us to
help them get permits. We phoned the DCO in Hebron, and were told
that they received orders from their commander, Asaf, not to speak
with us.

We continued to the south-eastern entrance of Halhul (nebi Yunis).
We learned that yesterday afternoon (Shabbat) the obstruction at
this entry and also at the entry to Sair were removed from the
other side of route 60. Between the entry to Halhul and the entry
to Sair, was the expanse of a new road of USAID, and in order of
this, they removed the barriers a month and a half ago. Perhaps
those who were responsible for building the road should know what
happened to their road.

We continued to the DCO at Etzion. About 300 people were crowded
together in the area in front of the opening. The first ones had
arrived there at 4;30 in the morning. It was then 8:30 and there
was still no reception of those waiting. A soldier with a
loudspeaker stood on the roof and told the people not to sit on the
railing. (why? because it was too comfortable). The people said
that there were five counters, but usually, only one or two of them
is open. During the day, the windows are closed according to the
whim of the soldiers.

In the Al-Khadr school where we had visited in the morning, we saw
two fresh new blockades. The school advisor with whom we spoke said
that a jeep with soldiers had arrived in the morning, and were
infuriated when they saw that over one of the blockades, it was
possible for cars to pass (apparently, the work of men who had
worked during the night because such criminal activities there are
very well developed). As a result of their anger, the soldiers
caught a boy on his way to school and hit him. The school advisor
and the principal went out to free him and the soldiers cursed at
them "Get out of here, and a variety of other curses that we
would prefer not to repeat". In spite of this, the advisor
pleaded with us to try to get the government to allow passage of
wheelchairs for the disabled at the blockade who come to the school
from the direction of the village.

We saw and several other horrific things which it is painful to
write about