Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Tue 13.5.08, Morning

07:15 Bethlehem CP: Closure due to Jerusalem presidential conference and Bush’s visit. The closure is partial, though, and quite many Palestinians in possession of the necessary permits wait in long lines in front of the two checking posts that were opened that morning. Indeed, people complained about the long wait – two hours and over. Only at 07:45 did a third post open, and in less than fifteen minutes the lines disappeared. 

A renovation: At each checking booth hangs a note saying that it is officially forbidden to have private conversations on the phone.

08:25 Etzion DCL: About forty people waiting in the hall. A Palestinian tells us that the computers are not functioning, and it will take (hopefully) an hour to fix them.