Morning

Upon arriving, at the entrance of Tantur there were 3 detainees. One of them sat down. A border policeman, ordered him immediately to satnd up :"if you do not stand up I'll break your legs and head". Upon our intervention, he softened a little. The detainees were taken to the other side of the road, together with other 5, and allowed to sit down in the shadow. Their i.d. cards weren't returned yet, at 8:00. Two adult women, were caught also in Tantur (border policemen were inside Tantur territory) and sent back. A typical dialogue took place between one of them and the police bordermen: "Without i.d. I do not know who you are". The woman: "I'm a person". I overheard another policeman whispering: "This is a person?!".At the checkpoint: trucks carrying sand were not allowed to enter the Palestine side until an order was given by the DCO. Also, a French working for the water company was denied entrance, until intervention of the commander of the checkpoint, who was cooperative with us and told us that they are not allowed to enter because there is a prayer at Rachel's Tomb, religious people are expected there and they received this order to avoid problems. Quote from the officer (a Caucasian inmigrant): "Everybody shit on my shoulders. I'm waiting to finish my service to leave this country and all which is happening here".Very few cars entering Jerusalem, checked without dealy. Botton line: it is important to keep our watching at the Bethlehem checkpoint.