Bethlehem. Tuesday PM, 15.8.2006Observers: Yael I. and Ilana D. (reporting) From 3:00 till 6:00 PMBeit Ummar, Al Aroub, Etzion DCL, Nashash and CP 300In Beit Ummar there was a changing of the guards in the pillbox. We stopped in Al Aroub when we noted massive army presence, at least ten soldiers and a few vehicles. It turned out that half an hour ago some kids had thrown stones. One of the reservists on the spot smiled at us and another one remarked that he could think of something better to do than chase little children. Our friend, the father of the storeowner opposite the pillbox said that it might be smarter to let the kid go and not put him in jail for three months to make a terrorist out of him. The ‘guests’ from the North had left he told us, ‘for the time being.’ He didn’t expect the ceasefire to last. Along the road the wonderful unsold plums are exhibited.There were only a few people pushing against the turnstiles at the Ezyon DCL. There was actually a soldier who talked to them via the loudspeaker, but for the last half hour no one entered. We tried to call, but were only able to leave a message. Nevertheless there was some movement. An elderly sickly man said that he could not come in the morning for his magnetic card and eventually left. A man who works at Keter needed his work permit extended and hoped they would revalidate his magnetic card (which only lapses in three weeks) at the same time. He had not much hope and realized that he might have to take a day off to spend it from the morning at the DCL. He complained bitterly about the closure and the fact that he is always late to work because of the queues at the Rachel Passage. He said that for over twenty years he was always in time before 7:00 AM in Givat Shaul and that now he never arrives before 8:30 or even 9:00. A twenty-four year old man asked why he is not entitled to a magnetic card. At Nashash we delivered the paid receipt to Abed who was very grateful. It had been easy to pay despite the expiry, because they had not checked the date. There were more women than men walking up the slope, most with young children and babies. We bought some local grapes. Across the entrance to Tantur twenty men had been taken off two buses and all were walked towards CP 300 accompanied by a jeep with an obnoxious driver. We entered the terminal which was empty but for a few tourists and a lone Palenstinian. The bored soldier confirmed that the closure was still in force. When we exited we saw that some of the detainees already received their papers after having signed the renowned paper.