Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Sun 10.8.08, Morning
07:00 AM, Bethlehem Checkpoint: The Israeli side is almost empty, though it is difficult to know according to the new policy whether most of the people have already passed, or whether most are still held up on the Palestinian side and only dribbled through.
Since the ecumenicals are on holiday, we have no exact data about what is happening on the other side.
People who passed say that today is good, but Tuesday and Wednesday were hell. Five stations were open on the Israeli side when we arrived, and after quarter of an hour one closed. We left close to 08:00.
08:00 AM, Etzion DCL: It appears that people get used very quickly to the new method at the DCL, according to which to reception is by villages, each day having its own villages. The DCL opens at 08:00, and from what we see (we arrive early this time), people did not come from villages that aren’t on the Sunday rota. However, reception is quite full, though the line is flowing nicely. Optimistic day