Etzion DCL

Only two real problems. What a simplification of the life of two Palestinians in those four words. A pity we can't take Biden with us to the DCO. More a pity that we cannot persuade our Israeli friends and family who sit so comfortably in their cocoons at home to just come out once and get a taste of that life is like for them. 

Oron company has built a cement factory. This is near the Bethlehem checkpoint and all the surrounding houses are filled with the cement dust . We advised the Palestinian who complained to contact the Association for Civil Rights in Israel. If they cannot help them,  then maybe they can advise the Palestinians to whom to turn. 

A couple arrived who needed a permit to go the American embassy and we gave them phone numbers in case they had a problem. 

A man who had been working for an Israeli Arab contractor for two years and now has been offered a better paid job in Tel Aviv but his employer will not free him. The contractor is building for the settlements in the Shomron area in the West Bank. He works in metal which is a very desirable occupation. It seems that not only Jews take advantage of the system of keeping Palestinians in a condition of slavery and medieval fiefdom. We tried the Workers Hotline but no one answered and we could not leave a message as the mailbox was full. He was told that the DCO had to deal with this but they say it is not their business. We again gave him various phone numbers and once again felt ashamed as he thanked us profusely.