Three Prisoners of a dog at Eretz on Wednesday, March 1,2006

Sister Susan, Father Ray Webb and I were returning from a short visit to Gaza, our usual bi-weekly visit to meet the Bethlehem University Graduates, and waited the usual half hour or so on the Palestinian side of the crossing point for approval to proceed to the Israeli side. First stop across was an identity check by matching face to passport picture. But to our surprise unlike past experience, Sister was told to drive the van to a special area, leave the front windows and the rear door open and then join us, who were told to move behind three cement blocks, about six feet high and four feet square, near the control booth.

I noticed that all the security people and soldiers with their guns were standing behind similar cement blocks placed in strategic places. I could feel the tension. A big, beautiful, black and brown German Shepherd was released. It raced to the van and friskily ran around it looking into the windows and the rear door and again the front windows. His trainer recalled him and then a second and third time released the dog to sniff the van where it repeated the same behavior. After that, one of the security guards approached us and asked what was in the front seat. Sister said an envelope and her carry all bag, but she forgot to mention several three or four day old copies of Haaretz that were under the front seat. She was told to place them in a specified area near the van but again forgot the papers. The dog was again released, ignored the material placed on the ground, ran around the car and stalled at the windows. We were then taken to the search booth, walked through the electronic gadget, which buzzed as usual when I went through because of my prostheses, and were told to wait outside. Father Ray and I sat, but no Sister Susan. Father Ray was soon called into the booth and finally my turn came.

I went through the electronic gadget causing it to buzz, so the guard did a thorough hand search, with his hands tightly closed around my arms and legs he moved them up and down squeezing the clothing against the skin, then used his magic wand over my whole body and it buzzed at my hips . I told him about the prostheses again and gave him the doctor’s letter, which I always carry. He took the letter to his superiors and when he returned said that he wanted to see the prostheses. I said, you can’t they are inside my body, all you can see are the scars. He said, ‘Show me.’ So, I lowered my trousers to show him. Now I can sympathize even more with the Arabs who often are searched in this manner. When I was finished, the three of us were told to report to the VIP lounge. On our way across the yard, the bomb detector truck drove by. After about an hour, Sister was asked for the keys so that they could drive the van to the pit area to continue the search. It took almost another hour before they brought us our belongings and asked them to check them. After another long wait, they drove the car out of the enclosed inspection area, gave us our passports and the van release with smiling apologies and assurances that they only cared for our safety.. On examining the van Sister realized that serious investigations occurred because there was evidence that the inside panels of the doors and sides were removed. We also noticed that Haaretz papers were not returned. Is it possible that some kind of chemical was deposited on the papers or was it a message that there were problems? By this time, I think the security guards pitied us, because it took very little time to give us approval to leave Eretz; more than three hours after arriving . I cannot adequately describe my feelings about having a dog trusted more than me—humiliating, dehumanizing does not do it. Nevertheless will be go to Gaza again. How can we not go, after watching the nursery school children practice the dubkeh for their Mothers Day celebration on March 23?

Writen by Brother Joseph Loewenstein
Bethlehem University President Emeritus