Al Nashshash, Beit 'Inun, Beitar, Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Nabi Yunis, Mon 6.10.08, Morning
6:45 AM, Bethlehem - Checkpoint 300: There were many people and only four inspection posts were active. People said that on the outside, the Palestinians side there was much pressure. Some arrived at 4:30 AM and have only reached the Israeli side at 7:00. They said that the passage was slow on that day and the one before because there were many Palestinians and since the Israelis weren't working fast enough. There were angry and annoyed people.
7:30 AM, Beitar Checkpoint : We wanted to see the checkpoint and find out what was going on there. There was no pressure at the passage. On the side of the checkpoint were 4 parked cars that belonged to public servants? We didn't make out to what office this belonged. In addition there were also soldiers. Store owners at the shopping center after the traffic lights told us of their hardship. Those who are permanent employees have a special permit. But they also have a hard time. The checkpoint is for the use of vehicles only. Pedestrians, who work Zur Hadasa, a 5 minutes drive from the checkpoint, aren't permitted to pass and must head back to checkpoint 300 and from there pass to Jerusalem, and arrive from the road that passes through Ma'yan- Kerem to Zturhadas. From the checkpoint the way is no more then a ten minutes drive, but they had to drive for more then an hour to get to the same place, not to mention the cost of such a drive. They had to pass their merchandise through Trakumia. Another long, pointless and impossible drive. It is still unclear what the prohibitions in this checkpoints are, we will try to collect the rest of the information during the upcoming weeks.
8:00 AM, Etzion DCL: A short visit. They only started handing out numbers at 8:15. They distributed about 100 numbers.
9:30 AM, Nabi Unis :
10:00 AM, Etzion DCL: Only 24 people had entered, thwere some people that didn't get a number because they arrived late. The officer promised that if they have the time ere they will let everyone enter. He advised them to return at 15:00. The process was slow, but they didn't stop the inspections. We called someone during the afternoon and found out that the person who was number 35 got his magnetic card at 11:30.
11:00 AM, Al Nashshash : Someone was waiting to meet us, he needed help with police documents.