Bethlehem CP - second Friday of Ramadan

9.00  When we arrived there were already crowds who had passed through, queuing for the many buses which were waiting for them. We hadn't realized that they set out so early – a soldier told us that they started coming at seven. On the way to the beginning of the line there were a few official-looking men (supplied by the bus company?) who said they were providing information.

We walked along the road passing the lines of people waiting for the bus, but soldiers stopped us from going closer, into the large area where people gathered just as they came out of the checkpoint.

We were struck by the enormous number of women.  It looked as if men and women were coming out in separate batches.

All was very calm.  The highlight for us was a young German woman who needed help to get through the checkpoint in the opposite direction, towards Bethlehem.  She was so excited to hear we were from Machsomwatch!  She is a journalist on a church magazine which published an item in honour of Machsomwatch's anniversary.  She asked to meet us next week so hear of our work. Corinna Waltz is her name.

We left just after 10 o'clock as there seemed little point in staying later.  There were a couple of cars and a few pedestrians making their way towards Rachel's Tomb.