Bethlehem and Surrounding, Friday 9.9.05, morningObservers: Warda A., Magdalena H. (reporting)CP 300 Unusual traffic of cars, especial to Bethlehem. To our question if the curfew is over we got three different answers from the soldiers. A lot of religious people came to the CP to get the bus to Rachel’s Tomb. At the CP were many more soldiers and jeeps than usually on Fridays. Two big buses with Palestian families parked on the side and soldiers brought all the passengers out for ID checking. The two drivers had to wait on the other side of the road next to the GSS hut. One soldier told us that they did something criminal in Gilo and were brought here. Another told us that they came illegally and were caught here at the CP 300. The two drivers told us that they came to CP Za’ayem, got checked during 25 minutes and passed with the permission from the soldiers of this same CP. 50 meters behind the CP two jeep’s stopped them, the soldiers told them that they were illegally in Israel and brought them here to CP 300. “Catch 22” we thought and really the officer who was in charge couldn’t persuade us that the situation was just fine and everything went right under and with the law. He really tried to be honest and friendly and maybe he realized during our discussion how absurd the situation was, and with our involvement he won’t get out of it easily. Two hours later I heard by phone from the drivers, that they got released after another hour without any punishement and all the papers were given back.Al-Khadr Usual traffic jam.Ezyon, Har Gilo No soldiers. Just at Wallag’e a few bored soldier girls.On road 60, as on every Friday, lively traffic of donkeys in both direction.