Bethlehem and Surroundings, Sunday 24.4.2005, AM, PassoverObservers: Sylvia P. and Ofra B. (reporting) We started our shift at 8:00 in order to check what is happening in the Southern Checkpoints of Jerusalem, in spite of the fact that we knew that there is a closure and the traffic is expected to be limited.8:10 – Checkpoint 300: Very few pedestrians, probably foreigners or medical staff. On our way to the south, still very close to Gilo, we found a flying checkpoint. The soldiers stopped a car. We stopped and asked a few questions. After the car left we left as well.8:30 – El Hader: There are many taxis and Transits, going to Hebron as well as going to Sawachre and Bethlehem (on the other side of the earth mound). The settlers are not on the roads during the holiday and therefore the Palestinians can still travel around – until tomorrow, the beginning of Hol Hamoed. In the market we find business as usual. The stands are slowly filled. We talk with the people around and we hear the common complains: lack of work, no bread for the families. I feel that – p-e-r-h-a-p-s there is little of optimism about the future. We traveled to Etzion Checkpoint but there is no soldier there. The road is open. We didn’t travel to the closed DCO and at 9:15 we started our way back to Jerusalem. On our way, at the Tunnel Checkpoint, the soldiers check private car passengers – there is problem with a woman who has a blue ID but her son hasn’t one. They are obliged to return. Closer to Jerusalem we found another flying checkpoint.