Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Sun 7.9.08, Morning

7:00 AM,  Bethlehem Check Point:: The receiving hall is not full. Five windows are open, but not many customers. Outside, on the Bethlehem side, there are many people and the crossing is closed for minutes on end at odd times. This is a bad day again. There is an ebb and tide phenomenon in these crossings on different days. Last week there were a few "good" days, and this week, on Monday and Tuesday, it was also OK (I have inside information). On Monday it took less than 15 minutes to cross. Then on Wednesday (see the MW report) it was bad again. Our informant says many people actually go to the A-Zayyam crossing which is much better, but far away.

8:00 AM,  Etzion DCL: there are many people waiting. We meet officer Nevuani, the coordinator of the DCL. He is actually pleasant, low-key, speaks fluent Arabic and explains to us that they are working until into the late evening (9PM last week on Sunday, he said) to give service. He gave us his telephone number without batting an eye (0506234195). People are given numbers in the order in which they line up at 8AM. The DCL staff is not interested in having a list from the workers, for that would only make them come during the night and they want to discourage that strongly. The hall fills up, but the airconditioning works and the prospects of getting through to the windows is good. Question is when.