Morning

At 6.30, contrary to news reports, there was no curfew or closure. A few people exited Bethlehem and one man told us that the small number of pedestrians was due to the Muslim Holyday - and that the curfew would start at 4 p.m. A soldier confirmed this. The Border Policeman - Danny Nagad (an Ethiopian) was once again very hostile, not letting us approach the checkpoint proper. A few cars passed in and out, non-diplomatic cars being briefly searched.Opposite the Giloh turnoff a Border Police jeep drew up and the police stopped pedestrians and cars that had already passed through the previous point, took their I.D. cards which were to be claimed back at the original point (i.e., they were all sent back) - much to the chagrin of an Israeli employer who had arrived in his tender to take them to work. (How long these men would have to wait for their cards, we have no idea.)At El Khadr, at 8 a.m., a jeep was on the road, observing and moved off within 10 minutes. The few people coming from Bethlehem said there was no curfew. A number of them gathered on the road waiting for transport to Hebron.On the way back, just before the tunnel we saw about 5 men being held , but we could not stop at that place to check.