Bethlehem and surroundings, Tuesday 30.08.05 PM, 15:00-18:00Observers: Anat M., Yael I. (reporter)Barrier 300A few vehicles pass the checkpoint after a short inspection. The commander of the checkpoint greets them with friendliness (thanks to Yael’s presence), and there is a calm atmosphere all around. Beside the hut near the interrogation room, stands a jeep. Inside the hut is a couple which we saw earlier, being taken out of a car with Israeli license plates. Possibly an Israeli driver has driven illegal workers and now they are waiting interrogation. We tried to speak with them, but one of the soldiers came out of the jeep and announced that it was a military closed area, was not ready to answer any of our questions regarding those people, and told us to get out of the area, in a most insulting manner, which astounded Anat. In the Gillo surroundings, there are no soldiers. After the turn off from the “Tunnel Road”, we see a police patrol car doing nothing. The “Tunnel Checkpoint” is very busy – with lots of soldiers checking cars and the queue in the direction of Jerusalem is long – almost as in the mornings. At the northern entrance to Efrat near the new pillbox a military vehicle stand on the traffic island. We drove to Omer’s home, as requested by Chaya. The pillbox opposite the entrance to Ein Aruv is occupied. Next to it stands a large jeep. When we returned it was gone. At the Liaison and Coordination Administration (LCA) there were a few people – mainly women. I telephoned and asked what happened to the man whose permit was taken away from him three weeks ago, saying that it was forged, and was asked to return to the LCA to retrieve it. I was told by Azhar, that since the terrorist incident in Netanya, no building labourers are allowed into Israel, even with a work permit. He said he does not know when the curfew will be lifted. Maher comes out to greet us (this was at the end of his shift, which ended at 16:00 on Tuesday). He invited us in, in order to explain to Anat, who was new, what his job is: “It is very important that you know what we do, since you assist us …etc. ” Anat went with him and I stayed in the hut. A few people received authorization and one family received a permit for three months for the mother who is receiving dialysis at the Augusta Victoria Hospital, and her daughter is accompanying her. They only complained that the papers they brought were not sufficient and that the elderly and sick old woman had to come herself to the LCA. The magnetic machine worked and people came out with their new cards in a matter of ten minutes, so they said – “almost like the days of the Messiah”. In El Hader we were told that the army almost doesn’t come, but that there isn’t work to be done there. Some said that in the “container” the inspections are very thorough, lately. At the entrance to Beit Jalah there are very few cars. In the Ein Yalo checkpoint we saw some soldiers chatting with a group of women who were walking back from the X crossroads.