Bethlehem, Tue 3.6.08, Morning
06:30, Bethlehem CP. Crowded and nervous as usual at this CP. Five checking posts were open. Only at around 07:30 did the pressure diminish.
We saw a soldier pushing violently a Palestinian who was already on his way out of the CP. The man tried to explain something, in vain. We talked to him outside the CP. The man was in complete control of himself, smiling even.
“I had to say something to a friend still waiting in line, and the soldier wouldn’t let me. We are denied even the simplest things.” And he added: “There will be an end to all this…”
07:50, Ezyon DCL. About fifty people were waiting; almost all of them for magnetic cards. Almost all of them are not allowed to enter Israel for “security” reasons. Why did they come? There are rumors that the day before, maybe some other day, all those who are prevented from entering Israel had received magnetic cards, and people are so desperate for work that they came, just in case. We waited, but until we left no one of them received a magnetic card. One of them had been in touch with our colleague Sylvia, and she had told him then that he stood no chance of having a magnetic card, as he was not married. He too came, hoping against hope that some miracle would happen and the prohibition would be removed.