Morning

We arrived in El Khadr at 06:30 a.m. There were no soldiers around and lot of free movement of people. We stayed for about 15 minutes and talked with the taxi drivers who again complained about Wadi Nar and the terrible treatment they get there. We asked them to try to give us details of maltreatment, especially names (if possible) and vehicle numbers.We then went to Bethlehem. Two of us remained near Tantur since there was a group of 3 border police (a woman officer + two soldiers) and a group of men and women whose ID's had been taken for inspection. Two went to the actual checkpoint. It was at 06:50AM. Some of the detainees in Tantur said that they had been detained since 05:30. Our ID's were also taken for inspection, and one was kept for about 20 minutes due to the fact that she supposedly had some kind of police record (she is not aware of it). A few of the women were very upset, some of them were over 60and very nervous. Meanwhile we had been informed about the suicide attack. The officer was tough but fair. The men and women detainees were soon taken to thecheckpoint. The women's ID's were returned to them and they were sent home (none of them had permits). The men were kept and also one woman who had hidden her ID in her bra and had pretended not to have it. It was eventually found. She had lied and therefore was a "suspect". She had to remain there as punishment. We contacted the Moked on her behalf. She sat there weeping with a big bag. We left at 08:25.An elderly new soldier with longish hair ignored our presence, while his youngercolleague greeted us with a song about 'Baruch Goldstein who is the King'and an Ethiopian border policeman did not let us continue beyond the vehiclecheckpoint. There were very few cars from the Jerusalem side and no waiting. The pedestrians had to wait and were allowed to pass one by one.A woman who works for the UN Monetary Fund in J-lem came to thank us and to inform us that as soon as we arrive the wait is shorter and we certainly make a difference. She showed us how at least ten women (mostly with huge bundles on their head) came through via Tantur at the side of the sidewalk while the border policeman were changing their shift (at 7:30). They cannot board transits, since the cab drivers risk huge fines if they are caught transporting illegals. So they walk or sometimes pay 40 Shekels for a furtive ride. She implored us to come to Bet Sahur, "without our MachsomWatch tags and our heads covered with scarves" to observe what takes place down there. A convoy of five white Red Cross trucks with Geneva (Swiss) number plates crossed swiftly. She remarked that the food intended for the starving population would probably not reach its destination, since most of its contents would be stolen beforehand by the corrupt authorities.