Bethlehem Monday, 6/9/2004 Observers: Diana H., Yehudit A. (reporting); Raphael, a guest from the US, member of Peace and Justice Alliance Bethlehem Checkpoint, 6:20. About 40 people waiting in line, passing one by one through the metal detector. The passage is swift. Vehicles going to Jerusalem also go through quickly. A few schoolchildren are on their way from Bethlehem to Jerusalem (7:00). There are 3 posts made of sand filled sacks near the wall facing the shack. Huge trucks carry structures for the new CP. El Khader, 7:20. No military presence. The place is jumping. Dozens of vehicles and hundreds of people crowd the passage. Schoolchildren walk the incline toward the CP, including one in a wheelchair. Blue Police officers direct the traffic at the crossroads. DCO Ezion, 8:00. Two BP jeeps arrive. 5 blindfolded, handcuffed men alight. The blindfolds and the cuffs are taken off and the men are led into the DCO. They are told to wait half an hour, until the investigator arrives. They are treated efficiently and politely throughout. When we ask why they are detained, we are told that they are not detained, it is “a GSS matter.”8:05. Two windows open. About 30 people wait in line. One comes out beaming: he got a magnetic card. Many wait for the police window that opens at 9:00. Again, we hear complains of wasted workdays and repeated visits to the DCO to obtain statements that traffic violations have been paid. El Arub, 8:50. At El Khader, the drivers tell us that there are problems at El Arub. When we get there however, the passage is open. Beit Umar, 8:55. A rolling checkpoint stands by the pillbox. Palestinian taxis are checked and let through. Ezion CP. About 30 men are waiting by the wall, next to the taxis that brought them here (8:00). On our way home, we saw only 3 (9:00).