Bethlehem area, Thursday, 24.8.06, AM Observers: Ruth E., Rama Y., Rina R., Aviva W. (reporting) 06:45 – Bethlehem CP: Many workers are waiting outside for their employers. According to them, the checking today (unlike yesterday) was quick and efficient. 07:30 – El Nashash: Many taxis, not nearly enough passengers to use them. New market stalls are opening and the place become more and more colorful, noisy (and dirty), like El Khader, the old passage. No soldiers in sight. 08:15 – Etzion DCL: There were around 60 people waiting. Age limit for having the magnetic cards is still 27. People approach us as usual, not being able to receive the card because, for some or other reason, they are on the GSS list. Obviously, they are very frustrated – the lack of shade outside together with the stench and suffocation inside makes waiting almost impossible. The fairly new regulation is that magnetic cards are not issued to anyone without a valid work permit. S., a woman from Beit Jalla, who works at a church in Jerusalem, refused such a permit because the allotment of permits has run down. Today, at long last, after many and desperate trials, she received the longed for permit.