Bethlehem 15/4/04 Watchers: Inbal M., Hadas BA., a guest Bethlehem. We arrived at 6:30, during the changing of the guards. No people trying to cross and no detainees. 10 minutes later, 3 Palestinian women were brought to the CP — their IDs had been taken when they tried to enter Jerusalem through Tantur. Yoav, the CP commander, said they had tried to enter Israel illegally. We asked if it was possible to cross legally, and predictably, got the answer that a full closure is in effect and only medical staff, Christians celebrating Easter and medical emergencies with DCO permits are allowed to pass. Yoav added that food packages were the only merchandise allowed. We left the CP and returned 2 hours later. 8:30. The detained women have been released. the detained women have been released. In the waiting shed near the Interrogation Room, a dozen Palestinians from Har-Homa are detained. The interrogation is in process. The BP soldiers who brought them in now take down their statements, and the detainees have to sign them. By the CP wall, 6 more detainees stand with their faces to the wall. 2 others are allowed to sit down. Yoav says they have been detained for half an hour. They need to face the wall, he says, so they won’t spy on the soldiers and learn their procedures. When asked when they can expect to be released, Yoav replies that it may take hours (“There’s a backlog at the GSS terminal”). When we left, about an hour later, there was no change in the detainees’ situation. Our repeated inquiries were answered with: they’re still being checked… El Khader, 7:10. Bustling traffic of pedestrians and taxis. No military presence. The drivers, again, report of violence and damage to vehicles at Wadi-Nar Container. We call Wadi-Nar: The container is manned by “Governor House” company under the command of Avi. We reported the allegations to Shlomi, the deputy commander of the company, and he said he needed specific details of the incidents and the identity of the soldiers and the jeeps involved. (Shlomi was willing to help improve the situation. He asked us to report incidents at Wadi-Nar and invited us to call his cell phone when witnessing the incidents. Tekoa, 8:00. The CP is manned by 3 Armored Forces soldiers, and is open to traffic in both directions.