Bethlehem, October 18th 2005, PMWatchers: Ruth, Noa, Illit, Diana (reporting)The day after the Etzion junction shooting, first day of Succoth – general closure + additional restrictions.14:30 – Bethlehem CPThe BP don’t answer who is allowed to come and go. We see several internationals pass. A few cars pass, both ways. The interrogation room is very busy – 4 or 5 Israeli Palestinians from Beit Safafa (Jerusalem) were detained for illegal building and attempt to hide the heavy tools. We ask the people waiting to be interrogated what happened, they say that it’s their land, but don’t deny the building. Some of the policemen answer our questions, others don’t. To our question why it’s BP and not blue police taking care of this, they say Beit Safafa is part of the Jerusalem envelope.14:55 – The Tunnels CP is creating a traffic jam up to the Al-Khadr/Hussan junction.15:00 – Al-KhadrThe taxis area is blocked with concrete blocks and a military jeep. We go up to the Hussan new taxi station and talk to an Israeli Palestinian who works with his car when Palestinians are under closure. Children and old people walk the way to Al-Khadr, now longer by almost 1 km.15:30 – Ezyon DCO closed due to the Jewish holydays. The ACRI & MachsomWatch information sheets are still in place.16:00 – Ezyon CPLong line of cars, over 35. Only 4 soldiers in the CP, only one checking position, 15 meters before the CP itself. 5 cars are detained, all Israeli – they have tried to bypass the line and the soldiers took their IDs. (Usually only Palestinian cars are checked and Israeli cars only get a brief look.) We feel the soldiers are “educating” these guys. They are released in about 15 minutes. A Palestinian ambulance passes with no problems.A bus driver approaches us. He works with a company which drives children to schools in the area and also to Jerusalem. He wonders if their permit will be renewed because of the closure. We give him our phone number, in case there will be problems. He didn’t call.