Bethlehem, Fri 5.9.08, Morning

We arrived at the Jerusalem checkpoint on the Palestinian side at 08.45 (07.45 according to the Palestinians, winter-time). The streets in Bethlehem appeared to be deserted, but the closer we came to the area of the checkpoint, we realized that many had already got up in order to make an early start.

The parking lot, which is used by the taxi-drivers on normal days, was closed-off by concrete blocks, leaving just a narrow passage for the men to pass through; and there was another narrow passage for the women at the western side of the parking lot. Due to this arrangement, the usual great pressure that we see at the entrance to the site on normal days was relieved. Also, there was a separate queue for women at the entrance to the checkpoint, and at a certain stage they were diverted to the main road and allowed to pass through on it.

We learned from the Ecumenical representatives that the main bottleneck was in the passage where the magnetic inspection machines are situated. Apparently, however, after some time two more inspection stations were opened, using manual machines. Unfortunately, we were prevented from entering the building itself, and therefore couldn't verify this for ourselves. About 15,000 worshipers passed through the checkpoint during the morning hours, and the average time it took for each one to pass through was about an hour.

The womens' queue was much more stormy than the mens' one. Many of the disappointed women who were waiting hoped that perhaps the rules would be changed, but up until the time that we left they remained according to the advertised instructions. Only a few in the mens' queue were refused passage - “men whose ages are not eligible” and GSS-denied people.

The situation here was far better this time, compared with the turmoil of previous years. The violence that the soldiers displayed in previous years was not in evidence this time. Commanded by major Nevuani from the Etzion DCL the soldiers conducted themselves quietly, with patience, politeness and respect. Except for one or two occasions in which a rifle was pointed directly at the head of a Palestinian, we didn't see any inappropriate conduct.

The officers took care that the soldiers shouldn't drink near those standing in a queue, and we didn't see any of them smoking. Also their attitude to the disappointed people (especially the women) wasn't rough. However, it is impossible to describe the depth of the

disappointment of those who stayed behind and the pent-up rage that was also directed at us because of our lack of ability to change the rules.

There were many photographers and reporters present, and some who had been here in previous years, remarked on the enormous improvement in the situation this time.