Bethlehem CP 300, el Khader, Beit Jala

Bethlehemm Beit Jalla, El Khadr, DCO Etzion, Election Day, 9/1/05, 2-5 pm Observers: Shlomit S, and Rahel M (reporting)Bethlehem CP 300There are ten soldiers working and standing about at the CP, more than usual. 8 detainees are waiting about an hour for their ID's that have been taken from them as they tried to pass at Tantur. None had voted yet. One detainee is in the interrogation room. We are told that he attacked a police woman. Why? They didn't seem to know. There is a constant flow of cars, one at a time, to enter the CP. A couple without a car, American tourists, are told to walk down below behind the CP to enter Bethlehem. A volunteer election moniter from Germany walking out of Bethlehem told us that all was quiet in the city. Beit Jalla CPOn the way to the turn into Beit Jalla there was a jeep, however, no one was stopped.There was a constant line of cars to enter, sometimes three in number, sometimes ten. We had a very pleasant conversation with the soldier (sadeer) while he checked the ID of every driver. He was polite and pleasant to each one. At one point another soldier came out and told him not to speak to us. When he left, the first continued to chat with us. We noticed that a vehicle with four back tires was not allowed to enter. When asked why, he did not know. Shulamit called the Humanitarian Moked, who inquired and returned with the answer: Vehicles with four back tires may enter CP 300, but any other area requires a permit, which can be had from the Etzion DCO. El KhadrFull of movement of adults and small children selling peanuts and coffee. The shuk was full of merchandise. The majority of people we spoke to did vote, showing us the mark on the thumb, yet there were a few who did not intend to do so. The atmospere seemed to be full of hope.Upon our return to CP300, the eight detainees had been released.