Bethlehem, Al Khader, Etsion DCL, Sunday, April 10, AM Observers: Ofra B, Sylvia P, Chana A (reporting) 6:45 Bethlehem CP 300: Although the commander of the checkpoint was very nervous and adamant that we keep our distance from the “sterile area”, there was almost nothing going on. One car passed from the B side. No pedestrians as far as we could see, no detainees (yet!) 7:00 Al Khader: the usual crowd, more perturbed than usual. There was a “closure” today for over 40’s, i.e. no one could enter Jerusalem because of the Jewish demonstrators who insisted they had to go up to the Temple Mount on this, the first of Nissan. It was still early and although a lot of pedestrians passed from the Road 60 side to the Palestinian side, the booths were by and large still empty. The coffee server was still hoping that his former employer from Jerusalem would send him an official letter on the basis of which he would be able to get a permit to enter, and Ofra will look into it, but we are pessimistic. After three years, the guy has probably no more need for him. He does, however, owe him severance payment for the five years he did work there and it’s a real crime not to have paid it out to him. We (Ofra) will look into this. 8:07 We were at the Ezyon DCO. One Palestinian had already been to the window and received his magnetic card. A real miracle! Inside the shed was empty, only a few men at the windows. After ten minutes a few men came in with no particular events to report. We stayed to talk to them a little, and after twenty minutes left. End of our mission.