Bethlehem and vacinity, Sunday Nov.7th, 2004 PMObservers: Ronit S., Tzipi E.(reporting)Our shift began at 3:15 and ended at 6:30.Bethlehem CP 300—-We arrived initially at this CP and since traffic wasflowing and there were special no problems. We didn’t stop. WE heard that in the morning the road to Hebron was blocked toPalestinians. At El-Hader we saw few Palestinianג€™s taxis and buses and continued on our way to the MATAK. WE noticed consideragble movement ofPalestinian pedestrians. There were many transit taxis driving south to the ETzion circle and some of them were driving in reverse, which we found hard to understand.ETzion DCO , Three people who were leaving the DCO told us thattoday the road to Hebron is blocked for Palestinians and only road toBethlehem and the surrounding villages is open. They also said that if avehicle enters the Hebron area, it would not be allowed back.The DCO waiting room was empty. One Palestinian was argueing at thepolice desk in Arabic. Three others waited outside to geta permit. They were waiting for a particuar officer. Etzion CP: Many soldiers. YellowPalestinian transits and others were on the roads but there was no traffic in the direction of Hebron. We saw few transits parked the Hebron side of that CP. El-Hader: The usual pedestrian traffic.A taxi driver from El-Hader asked us why only Jews are allowed to enter Hebrontoday. We also wondered. We droved back toone of the CP on the road to Etzion and asked the soldiers there why thePalestinians are not allowed into Hebron from the north. Theyexplained that there are many warnings and therefore a big Armypresence.One driver was detained at a temporary CP on the Hebron road because he drove in reverse!Apparently he was trying to avoid entering the Hebron road becaue of the special conditions today. Beit-Jalla CP: a short line of vehicles wait to enter the village. Theyare checked and move in. Some cars wait to get out of the village,in the opposite direction.We drove back to Jerusalem via Wallaje. The road is desolate, silent and theview is peaceful.