Bethlehem and vicinity, Wednesday PM, 26.7.06Observers: Tami B., Maya BH., Daniela G. (reporting)Al Nashash – 15:00: Idle taxis, very few passengers. The vendors repeat their request for help against the army’s threat to remove the stalls.Ezyon DCL 15:45: The parking lot is pretty full, the stench from the toilets is awful. People are still waiting for numbers to go in for the magnetic cards, uncertain whether there will be any at this late hour. E. does not answer the phone so we leave a message asking. Whether by coincidence or not, a few minutes later an officer distributes numbers from behind the gate (he does not come out as they usually do). We try to help two women who have been sent back and forth and then denied access into Jerusalem for an appointment at the American Consulate, one of them 60 years old and on whose form we detect indications that she should not be refused. To no avail. A nice guy form the IDF Humanitarian Center calls the DCL and comes back with the answer that “They have their reasons” and the women should try again in two weeks time. We find it difficult to understand what in their status will change in a fortnight.Bethlehem CP – 17:00: Packed. A long line stretches and there are only two booths open. We call Ronni, who says he will look through his cameras to assess the situation. We don’t know if he finally sent in more soldiers to ease the pressure because we had to leave soon after.