Bethlehem and surroundings, Tuesday, AM, 16.8.2005, 7:05-10:20Observers: Dalia, K. Tamar, A. (reporters)No unusual incidents. Checkpoint 3007:05 – Yoav, the veteran commander, whom we have seen here for many weeks, insists that we stand outside the area of the checkpoint since “it has to be sterile of people”, in case they identify any explosives. He does not change his mind when we comment that Tal S allowed us to stand under the tower. Two carriage-ways are open to traffic; four soldiers; very light traffic and no delays. There is a queue of about ten people, with about 10 minutes waiting time – that is, about one minute per person. It looks like there is an ease in the closure. A dignified person, perhaps a Canadian, passes the checkpoint by foot on the pedestrian footway, without anyone stopping him. Yoav, shouting and with aggressive body-language, is quarreling with a young Palestinian near the checkpoint, and finally the young man is sent back – we are not sure whether to Bethlehem or to the end of the queue as a means of punishment. At about 7:20 there is no longer a pedestrian queue and only solitary persons arrive. 7:30 – A rolling checkpoint at the entrance to the “Tunnel Road” in the direction of Jerusalem. The checkpoint at the “Tunnels” 7:35 – The passengers in a minibus are told to get out and are made to stand in a line. At the intersection of the Tunnel Road and the Beitar-Beit-Shemesh roads, a jeep arrives and a police-officer and a Border Guard Police officer get out, perhaps to see to it that the traffic flows. At the gateway to the side entrance to Eliezer, there is a queue of Palestinians that are waiting to undergo inspection. Checkpoint of Gush-Etzion 7:45 – manned.Tower across from the El-Aruv camp. 7:47 – Seems to be manned. Ras El Jurah Checkpoint (entrance to Road 35 to Kiryat Gad) 7:55 – Not manned. Gush Etzion checkpoint8:10 – Manned by four soldiers that seem to be doing nothing. DCO Gush Etzyon 8:12 – Five men are waiting at the entrance to the DCO, probably for a talk with the CSO. In the shed, seven men are waiting – two are already standing before the windows. At 8:20, another three men arrive, and another two Christian women. The ventilator is working. The three windows of the soldiers are open, but the main request is to receive a magnetic card. Maher opens the police window at 8:25 – half an hour before the actual opening hour. Someone who is not receiving a permit because of the CSO’s refusal, is trying to renew his card and asks for our help. We write down his personal data in order to write a letter to Yair Lotstein. When we are about to leave, a resident of Valaja phones us, and tell us that for some days he has not been able to pass Checkpoint 300 to Jerusalem, although his brother has succeeded. Now he tells us that although the soldiers detained him for about twenty minutes, while discussing between them what to do with him, he was finally permitted to pass through. El-Khadr9:15 – Not very crowded; no military presence; most of those with stalls have started to organize their wares. A person, who in 2004 was beaten by soldiers, and his car damaged near the gasoline station near Maaleh Adumin, turns to us. He put in a complaint but for some reason, his lawyer (Shlomo Laker) decided that there is a slim chance of succeeding with his complaint. We saw the papers from the El-Itmad Hospital where he was treated, regarding the injuries to his stomach and chest, and we finalized with him that he will send to us by fax. all the documentation regarding his complaint, in order that we shall see if there is anything to be done. Beit Jalah checkpoint10:00 – Traffic is moving; three military vehicles drive away. From the road one can see the intensive building works that are being done in Har Gillo, perhaps for the further expansion of the settlements. Valajah Checkpoint10:20 – Four soldiers not doing anything.