Bethlehem

16:00, Bethlehem, a day after the army
reentered. Today there's a closure, according to Ronen the comander
of this shift at Bethlehem checkpoint. Very few people crossed,
only those who work for hospitals, tourists, UN, a group of
pilgrims and one decorated car of a wedding party. Ronen said that
when there's no closure, the crossing is from 6 AM-9 PM, of a lot
of people.

16:15, a police van stopped with 2 detainees. One of the policemen
who looked religious told the soldiers "hold them for at least
2 hours". When we asked the soldiers later, they didn't know
where they were taken. A Israeli bus driver (line 163) behaved like
a regular visitor at the checkpoint, drank coffee with the soldiers
and for our "shalom" greetings he replied "never was
and never will be". We explained what we do and he became
softer. A Palestinian family walked toward the checkpoint and were
told to go back through the tunnel. As we left (after 30 minutes)
we saw them coming back from the tunnel weren't allowed to pass.
Truck drivers sat beside their trucks, bored and tired. They have
been waiting from early in the morning (came from Ashkelon) and
still didn't know if they'll be able to pass.

17:20, arrived to Gush Etzion, people crossed freely. We left at
18:00.