Bethlehem and surroundingsSunday, January 22, AMObservers: Sylvia P, Ofra B,Chana A (reporting)6:45 Bethlehem crossing: We enter the outer entrance/exit without a hitch. It turns out to be the only exit this morning. Quite a few workers come into Jerusalem with the requisite documents and the soldiers walking on the walkway above their heads don’t interfere with our presence. The line of workers is not very long but it’s an increase over previous weeks.7:15 El Khader: Lots of taxis and people, as usual. We have a few clients but still have time to visit the open air market which turns out to be mainly empty at about 8:00. The hump over which everyone crosses from one taxi to another is wet and slippery and remains pure harassment.8:15 Ezyon: Lots of people. Many approach us for our help, some women as well. A few stories: One couple, a biologist and his wife from Beth Jala, approach us. He has a standing entrance permit to Israel, works for Bethlehem U and is in contact with Israeli universities; she is a former tour guide, 28 years old, and now a mother of two. She works for Talita Kumi as the office manager of the principal, speaks perfect English and serves as a translator for her (German) boss who speaks no Arabic. BUT she cannot go with him to Jerusalem for his meetings with Palestinian educators because she is GSS barred. Why??? Hopefully she will be allowed a permit now. There are more cases of couples where one member is barred and the other is not. Our friend Hany, whose five-year old daughter, suffering from a rare children’s disease and under constant surveillance/treatment at Hadassa, got a month-long entry permit on Sunday afternoon after several calls to Dalia Bassa who had been on vacation the week before and forgotten all about this urgent case!