Abu Dis, Container (Wadi Nar), Tue 13.1.09, Afternoon
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Observers:
Chana G., Rina H., Julia W., Rahel W. (reporting)
Jan-13-2009
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Afternoon
Wadi Nar
There were no unusual incidents en route to Wadi Nar. When we got there, we could not understand what was happening. There were about 8 security personnel who were checking the i.d.'s of about an equal number of Palestinians who were standing around the hut. Eight vehicles were being detained -- four heading toward Abu Dis and four heading toward Bethlehem. We asked one of the drivers what was going on and he told me he had already been waiting for over an hour to get i.d.'s returned.
While we were waiting, two soldiers -- one border police and the other an M.P. headed toward the vehicles and gave some i.d.'s to one of the drivers. Unfortunately, the i.d.'s didn't belong to anyone in the vicinity. Obviously, a whole slew of i.d.'s were collected and no one seemed to know who belonged to what. It was like a comedy routine except that there was nothing funny about it. The driver (who was waiting for the i.d.'s of some of his passengers) went around trying to straighten things out.
The same scenario repeated itself several times. I.D.'s were mistakenly given to people while they were waiting for their own to be returned.
After about 20 minutes, when some things got sorted out, several of the detained vehicles went on their way, but two men were detained -- one, a very well dressed young man from a vehicle heading toward Abu Dis (the driver said they had been waiting for 3 hours already -- we have no way of knowing if that was so) and the other from the transit heading toward Bethlehem. The meanwhile, it seemed there was a change of guard and the new crew was just waving everyone through in both directions. After about a half hour, we called the Moked to find out what was going on with the two detainees
. We were referred to the military Moked and called them as well and were promised a call back after the matter was clarified. We never got the call back, but within minutes, the detainees got their i.d.'s and went on their way. No yelling, no shouts, no overt hostility, but hours spent waiting and wasted at a cold, windy checkpoint.
. We were referred to the military Moked and called them as well and were promised a call back after the matter was clarified. We never got the call back, but within minutes, the detainees got their i.d.'s and went on their way. No yelling, no shouts, no overt hostility, but hours spent waiting and wasted at a cold, windy checkpoint.