Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Sun 10.4.11, Afternoon

  Etzion DCL, 3:30 pm:  we might as well copy-and-paste previous reports, because there is nothing new under the sun. More people than usual – the Christian Easter is approaching and people seek church permits. The Jewish Pesach is approaching, and the DCL will accept only humanitarian clients in its course. But the carousels don't move, the waiters are crushed against them, the soldier is absent or deaf, the number already inside is the magical constant: 15.

We find out that Easter permits are to be requested at the Palestinian DCL, not here, but hope dies eternal, and those who have already invested much time waiting don't give up in spite of the fair warning that they are wasting their time. But time has no cost in this forlorn humiliating place.

Bethlehem – Checkpoint 300, 5:15 pm:  here, at least, the lines move quickly. Not only do the laborers returning home pass without harassment and unhindered, but they now dare carry stuff across the CP with them, we even saw several fairly large trees-in-earth being taken across. Heartwarming the CP is not, but at least those that only expect to cross it can do so rapidly.