Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Sun 7.12.08, Morning

6:45  AM, Bethlehem Checkpoint 300:
 some workers are already outside. The main hall is quite empty, four windows open. There are fewer people than usual because of the holiday starting tomorrow (Eid el Adha). We stick around until 7:30, but there is no change. Most people have already started taking off for the Eid.

7:55   AM.Etzion DCL: 
there is a large crowd waiting to renew their magnetic cards, get permits, etc. The officers come, open the door to the waiting room, inspect it for suspicious objects and come out to deliver numbers. First the women get numbers, then the old people.
The people with special permit requests get in without numbers.
All the others stand there stretching out their hands with their card requests as if begging for favors. A depressing sight.
 

The numbers delivered are insufficient for the crowd waiting. We tell people to wait around until 11:00 o'clock because usually more numbers are given then. But today the going is very slow.
 
We leave by 10:00 and only very few people have passed through the windows inside.
Because of the slow going no new numbers are given out at 11:00.