Bethlehem and Surroundings Wednesday, April 20, AM Rutie R and Rahel M, (reporting) Bethlehem CP 300 6:30 am The BP are almost impossible to communicate with. They answer our questions curtly, and in the next breath tell us to move back to our acceptable spot. There are about seven detained people. It is difficult to see them all. “They have not been there very long.” The BP are very slow to invite the half dozen cars to enter the CP. About ten vechicles enter Jerusalem while we are there. One of the BP has a blue cap on. When asked about it, the answer is that it is army issue. Beit Jalla CP 7:15 Traffic and pedestrians move quickly. Almost all cars entering are simply waved on. BP very friendly. Al Hader 7:30 No army presence. One of the owners of a food shop says that business is not good for him since the CP at Beit Jalla is now open until midnight. After walking in past the shuk, people shout to us that a youth has been taken in handcuffs further in. We rush past all the taxis. There is clear vision for several blocks, and we see nothing besides local population. So we leave.Etzion DCO 8:15 to 9:00 am Seven people are waiting. Several stand in line at windows #1 and 2. One complains to us that the police window is not open, even though a posted sign says the hours are from 8:00 to 10:00. A telephone call is answered by the police who says “why should I stand like a doll at the window. Let someone come up.” Now three men do line up at the police window. In the meantime a man sitting with a woman, says that one shouldn’t complain. After four years, what’s an hour or two. His story is that he asked for family unifacation four years ago, (he is from Beit Saffafa and his wife from the West Bank) and now he is just waiting for the confirmation. He has permission from the Interior Ministry. We asked him to call us with the result.