Bethlehem, El Khader, EzyonSunday May 28 AMObservers: Sylvia P, Ofra B, Chana A (reporting)6:45 Bethlehem CP: The checkpoint was flooded with people. It opened at 6:00 and not at 5:00 and people were in a rush to reach their place of work after an hour and a half (at least) of waiting. Only two booths were manned (one manned and on womanned) and we called R, the head of the terminal who answered his usual “no manpower”, but after half an hour or more, two more booths were opened as two woman soldiers reached the place. Then the line thinned out very quickly and by 8:00 there was no one. A very sad case we encountered was Walid, the father of an eight-year old cancer patient. They had to get to Shaarei Tsedek for a bone scan, but the father had no entry permit. No amount of goodwill (and there was quite a bit, though not at first) could get him through. Walid is en engineer (sic!) who has spent time in the Persian Gulf which is obviously enough to rate him a security risk, his wife is Jordanian. The child has been in treatment at Shaarie Tzedek for three years. As there was a misunderstanding on the part of the father and the appointment is only tomorrow, he was told to go to Ezyon DCL, leave the child at home with his grandmother, and get a one or three-day permit for two medical tests this week.8:15 El Khader: The new shuk is being set up there but buyers/passersby are few. Many people asked for our assistance and we got to Ezyon DCL only after 9.9:10 Ezyon DCL: Hot. Walid was there and got a number: 100. Magnetic cards and permits were being given out, but slowly. Many problems and we write petitions.