Bethlehem and environs, Sunday, 11.9.05 AMWatchers: Chana A, Sylvia P, Ofra B, Sara E (reporting) 6:55 – Bethlehem CP Quiet. Very few people pass through the CP. After some 15 minutes, the CP commander comes to talk to us and tells us that between 5:00 and 5:30 this morning there were many crossers going to work. Should be checked. After about half an hour we go on to El Khader. El-Khader7:45 – Our first impression is of life as usual. Many people coming and going, arriving in the yellow cabs. Some of the stands are open, most of them are still closed. Two people tell us that last Wednesday (7.9.05) there were eight police/military/BP jeeps with soldiers and policemen who brutally tore down two improvised booths selling foodstuffs. The remains of the rubble were there to be seen in a filthy and ugly heap. (In general this earth mound obstruction suffers from filth and dirt and looks as if it has never been cleaned.) Etsion DCL8:45 – The shack is full of people waiting, some 50-60, mostly men. Order is kept meticulously. Only one woman seeks our assistance after having been refused GSS. She works in a church in Jerusalem doing cooking and cleaning. Sylvia explains to her what she should do and what documents to bring with her on her second try.As no one else seems to need us, we leave at 9:50.N.B. We heard from one of our “clients” that last week 34 work permits were given to tourist guides from the Bethlehem area. FYI.