Morning

Upon arrival to Beit Lechem checkpoint we were confronted with a big sign - "STOP". As it turns out, there was a big happening last night at Rachel's Tomb: "our mother" Rachel had apparently passed away on the same day as Yizhak Rabin(?). So the checkpoint is now closed for 24 hours, since last night, no passing for any Palestinian (and no palestinians were there while we were there). The soldiers had told us that some 2,000 jewish people passed during the night for the feast. There were left-overs from the night everywhere: garbage, temporary rest-rooms, signs calling for donation (Tzdaka) and promising those who do a long life - in this and in the next world. The only way the ultraorthodox were allowed to pass to Rachel's tomb, though, was in an "Egged" bus, and they even had to pay some money for this.So we continued to El-Hader checkpoint, which was expected to be an exit for people trying to cross from Beit-Lechem (that was closed). When we got there, 3 embarrassed soldiers said they were just ordered to tell Palestinians that there is a closure from this moment on, and that none are allowed to pass in either direction - "for a reason we cannot give out - and probably till tomorrow". One of the soldiers gathered some 20 Palestinians, most of which just trying to get back to their homes, and told them the situation in Hebrew. Most stared at him without understanding, confusion on their faces, because he really seemed very pleasant and nice. So they remained in place, just in case he said something good. The soldier did not know what to do. He explained to us apologetically that they are only two soldiers (the officer had left), confronting so many Palestinians - "so why can't the Palestinians just stay 50 meters away from us?". In other words he was saying: "I am afraid". I think that in some way our presence calmed him a little (the other soldier was on a hill not in eye-sight) - and that was an interesting place for me to be. Meanwhile, we had contacted Avi Shalev from DCO to find out where this new instruction is coming from - but had'nt heard an answer till the end of the shift.But some things changed during the time we were there: the children of the school near-by were suddenly allowed to go to school (apparently, the soldiers had some good communication with our friend the principal), and also - after some persuasion from our side - some women and children, and a man that had visited his mother in the hospital, were allowed to return back home to Hussan. 11 Palestinians, who tried to go around the checkpoint, were detained for the whole time we were there (2 joined - so a total of 13). We gave them instructions of what to do if this continues for another hour (and "hamoked" (Center for the Protection of the Individual) tel.).Coming back through Har-Gilo - there was another checkpoint: 2 routes, one moving, another not moving - with a blockade. When we got to our turn on the "moving" route we had asked the soldier that has checked our ID, who this route is for, and he said: "this route is only for Jews". We told him then that at least he should blush when he says this. he did not seem to understand why he needs to blush. "Some strange women", he probably thought to himself...