Afternoon

H. B., M. A. N. A., two guests15:00 - People continue to jump from here to there over the Abu Dis wall. This apparently does not bother the Border Police who are on duty there. A bus filled with elderly people who are returning from prayer (in Jerusalem) is diligently checked and every person on the bus is detained in order for his ID to be examined by the BP.15:30- Waadi Naar/ the Container/Kiosk--one place with many names--we arrived there in a transit taxi. There is no tension or military presence; one day after the two guards were shot.At the checkpoint there are long lines in both directions to and from Bethlehem. There is a careful examination of every passenger. We called the commander of the unit that was at the checkpoint --Nissim and found out that the orders are! : smooth passage with no detainees. It seems that the Border Police had not heard about this. After a short time the tension dissipates, it's clear that they got orders from above.We spoke with the villagers who are trapped on the other side of the guard tower and they are waiting for a meeting with the Matak. They are left with a narrow passage to the road between the rolls of barbed wire.In a telephone conversation I had with Unit Commander (Eldar- I said although I don't listen to rumors, a number of people have told us that a Palestinian was beaten by the Border Police on Sunday morning, and it may turn out that these rumors are true, and that Border Police have already, been indicted for such actions in the past. It may therefore be wise to keep an eye on the BP in this shift (Russians, according to the Palestinians).In addition, I referred him to the orders from above for an almost free and rapid passage of vehicles (he affirmed) which apparently have not reached the BP at the checkpoint, who seem to be doing whatever they feel like.By the way, remember Danny, the Ethiopian who terrorized the Bethlehem checkpoint two years ago? He is alive, breathing and kicking in Waadi Naar.