Etzion DCO - documenting the sanitary condition by Channel Kan 11

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Observers: 
Raya, Ronit, Rachel (reporting); Translator: Judith Green
Sep-2-2019
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Morning
רונית מתראיינת לכתבה, מתק עציון

Continuing with the idea of Raya, which is about to be accomplished, we travelled to the 2 locations (DCO Etzion and Qalandiya checkpoint) in order to assist the journalist from "Kan" station 11 in reporting about the upkeep and conditions in those areas.

DCO Etzion

We met with the team and also with Shlomit and Natania at the DCO Etzion.  We were astonished at the small size of the DCO, in face of its purpose to serve a very large population.  All of the Bethlehem area, and at this time also Hebron, since they have been renovating the DCO office there for a long time, in fact up until now.  Shlomit was able to describe exactly the plumbing problems at the DCO as well as the stench just outside it.  But this will not be on the TV program.

The people waiting here, most of whom arrive in order to get a magnetic card, which today is required even for single entries, tried to create some order within all the disorder. One of those waiting collected all the documents from everyone and, every time that the door opened, 5 women entered, in the line's order.  We could not go inside because of the dense crowding.  Of course, the entrance is intended for Palestinians who receive this service.

A four-year magnetic card costs 150 NIS.  The magnetic card will soon (maybe already) will allow entrance into Israel without any further papers.  That is, one needn't arrice at the DCO to get a permit, it will be recorded in the computer.  This offers some consolation.  The state gets its income and those who receive this service are saved extra trouble.

Coffee break in the Malha Mall

Three women met in the Mall for a glass of juice and a Jabatta and discover that all 3 of them were born in the Maternity Hospital in Afula!  Raya already wrote about this.  A subject worthy of conversation until the juice is finished.

Qalandiya Checkpoint, the new and the old

Really, the old one looks old and neglected and it is hard to believe that it lasted so many  years.  The new one is not so great either.  The designer does not deserve much credit.  But maybe the State didn't give him a detailed description of what was needed.  Looks like a jail.  But, there are a lot of exit desks which allows for a quick passage.  The whole area is still being built, a road, parking, etc.  Chaos.

To photograph rest rooms was never my life's goal, nor did I ever think that MachsomWatch needed to document the rest rooms of the Palestinians at all.  I didn't like doing this or the attending meanings of the act.

Nevertheless, I photographed with one hand and blocked my nose with the other.  A Buddhist koan.

Also the facade of the new checkpoint.  I was surprised that the public broadnasting company, "Kan", needed us even though the reported had a photographer along.