Bethlehem, Thu 25.12.08, Morning

6:30 AM, Bethlehem Checkpoint - Rachel Crossing: 4 checking posts are open. Towards 7:00, 3 booths open. There are queues, but not long and waiting time is rather short. People report the crossing  having taken between 45 to 60 minutes. The problem is that it is impossible to know beforehand what will happen, so that people arrive before 4:00 in order to insure to themselves that they will arrive on time to work. It has to be mentioned that this waiting time, at this period of the year, is very tough.

People tell us that during the week-ends, it  happens often that soldiers are not working efficiently (do not open booths), which causes great delays.