checkpoint 300

today i was with the Bethlehem team at checkpoint 300, also called Bethlehem checkpoint. I came there at 6... already thousned of people were there, trying to get true to Jeruslame to go praying.



since it is Ramadan they give out extra permits, and also all woman over 45 can cross, and all men over 50 can somehow get true.



but it takes time, and bytoday there wer built a new barrier infront of the checkpoint, with just to small gates to get true. one for the men, and one for the woman.



It was hot, and the sun was hard on the people.

it was very hard to se all the old people, sick people and kids crying, beeing scared... seeing people that got pushed in the the crowd.. and because of ramadan, they are not drinking.



I was staying abit in the back, lokking and upserving. but then 3 soldiers came walking... and than they grabbed a boy.. and i just had to do somthing... so i just run after the soldiers and said, u can not do this... why are u doing this, what has he done... and then suddely i was in the middle og the soldiers and the PAlestinns at gunpointing.. and i just sad i demnad talking to someone who speaks back to me. teh CC came, and after a little while (that seemd like a very long time) the boy was released.

Then suddenly there was this blind man next to me... and the soldiers said.. i could help him true. so i walked him tru the main gate for the soldiers, and followed him to the bus. passing all the soldiers. It was a really good feeling, to help this men getting to the Jeruslamside, so he could go and pray!!

We also achived some other stuff to day, so it was a good day. and in the end most people got to go to Bethlehem!

more photos http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=160110&l=251d4&id=602760607


Jerusalem – Ma’an – Two hundred thousand Palestinians performed their Friday prayers in the Al-Aqsa mosque in the third week of the holy month of Ramadan. According to the Al-Aqsa foundation for Waqf (Muslim heritage sites) most of the worshipers were residents of East Jerusalem and the surrounding villages, or other Palestinian communities inside Israel, owing to the restrictions placed on West Bank and Gazan Muslims that prohibit travel into Jerusalem. Despite the heavy restrictions imposed on movement to and around the Old City of Jerusalem, said the foundation, Palestinian Muslims flocked to the mosque from the early hours of Friday morning. The streets of Jerusalem are overcrowded with people who were heading to the holy compound for prayers.Sheikh Yousef Abu Sneineh, who delivered the Friday sermon at the mosque, congratulated the worshipers on making the journey to the holy site a priority despite the heavy restrictions imposed on them by Israel. He called the popular action an appropriate form of resistance to Israeli efforts to take over the city. Sheikh Abu Sneineh also called for unity among Palestinians, since acting together against their oppressor would ensure their victory. Early Friday morning Israeli authorities imposed new inspection procedures and restrictions on worshipers going to the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. Thousands of Israeli police officers were deployed throughout the Old City and around the mosque. Sources told Ma’an that authorities placed new security officials within the vicinity of the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Thursday night, along with new video cameras at Al-Asbat gate. Israel also closed main roads around the area. Israel still refuses to allow male Palestinians younger than 45 to enter the city during Ramadan. But men aged 45-50 may apply for temporary permits to enter, while those 50 and older may enter without one. Women under the age of 35 are forbidden to enter Jerusalem, but those aged 35-45 can apply, and those 45 and older may enter without permits. (http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=32034 )