Bethlehem - Halhul, Sunday morning, 25.1.04.MachsomWatchers: Haya O., Dalya R., Ayala S. Hwy 60: Nearly deserted. Even the very few Palestinian buses that we detected seemed empty. El-Arrub: A relatively large number of IDF soldiers near the watchtower. A soldier agreed to tell us that the village was under curfew but offered no further information. Two students who timidly ventured forth were sent back home... Nebi Yunis: Much traffic. Etzion DCO [IDF Civilian Administration office] (8:40 AM): A large crowd was finally welcomed by two reception counters that had been opened and the slow process began. El Khadr: A rolling checkpoint implied detailed inspection of documents. As the buses arrived into the improvised 'central bus station' (the dirt road), rows of passengers lined up for inspection. We saw a number of detainees but were firmly forbidden to approach them (though 'assured' that if they were cleared, they were bound to be released very shortly.) Bethlehem Checkpoint (300):Very sparse traffic.