6:00  People cross quickly, with no delays. 

According to the international observers, 607 people crossed between 04:00-04:30; 1197 between 04:30-05:00; 1088 in the next half hour; and 1044 in the half hour following.  At 06:30 we returned to the Israeli side to wait for our driver.

Dozens of people waited on the Israeli side for their transportation and for contractors looking for workers.

At 07:00 we left the checkpoint for Hebron; the grain harvest has begun.

Hebron

07:36  A military jeep parks on the Worshippers’ Route; there’s also one at Curve 160.

We entered the Cave of the Patriarchs compound.  No one asked us who we were, what we wanted.  The shops across the way are still closed.  No sign of the previous Passover holiday other than a large poster opposing Bogie Ya’alon.  Many children walk as usual to their schools.

Most of the excavation area at Tel Rumeida has been filled in and the ground leveled.  My conclusion:  no treasures were found to justify establishing a national park.

On our way back we enter the gas station area to see the “agricultural gate” – open 2-4 days a year.  Palestinians there say that soldiers pick what little produce grows there.

We had a discussion about “proportionality”:  An army regiment is stationed between Kiryat Arba and Hebron.  With a little good will, the gate could be opened ever day.  The distance is minimal.