Bethlehem, Al-Khader, Etsion, Sunday March 27,05 AMObservers:Ofra B, Sylvia P, Chana A (reporting)6:45 Bethlehem CP 300: No one in sight. A sympathetic young soldier tells us that none but Christians are allowed to pass because of the Purim closure. The Christians are allowed to pass because of Easter. At this early hour, however, even the most passionate Christians are still celebrating in a prostrate position at home.7:00 Al Khader: Lots of yellow cabs, not many pedestrians. The cab drivers are loafing around, pissed off because there is so little business; others, day laborers, are also sitting around depressed. We are told that the situation at the Container and at the exit of El Azariya is disastrous today. Long lines and slow passing. The “wonder of Husan”, i.e. the earth mound that has been flattened, is disappointing. The obstructing mound skirting the main road is still there. So is the horrible passage at the Al Khader passage.We continue to Etzion CP. At the CP there is one soldier and a few detainees, we continue on the #60 highway to Al Aroub where there are two heavily armed soldiers waiting for any contingency.8:30 Etzion DCO. There are not many men waiting to get in, some have already been inside and are now on their way out, bewildered by another refusal. We take names, ID numbers, tel no’s and anything else. Sylvia starts calling the Matak, anyone. All the young men are barred from getting permits. One man with two fines on his car, totalling 1500 shekel comes up to us. We agree to pay at the Alon Shvut post office. Another bizarre experience: the AS post office is small, the clerk there is all alone and overtaxed. We wait for ten minutes, then it’s all done and we go back with at least one business brought to a “successful” end. The most upsetting case is of a man, 65 years old, with lung cancer. He has to go for treatment to the Augusta Victoria Hospital, but has been refused entry. He has ultra-sound results from a very recent date, to show that he is not pretending. We call Dalia Bassa. She says she will give us (and him) an answer tomorrow. We leave in disgust.