There was this instruction there that only cabs with permits could enter Bethlehem. Exiting was okay, but only cabs with a very specific permit could enter one of the directions.

Everything happens from six in the morning until six in the evening?From six to six. After six in the evening no one gets through. I mean, the checkpoint is folded up, blocked, we go into the post, close the sentry post and that's that. No one to talk to there, even. The checkpoint is closed. The Palestinians know that they need to take the long road and travel through another checkpoint. Now I haven't really gotten into this matter, and I really have no idea how far the next checkpoint actually is...

So where would you send the people?We knew the name of the next checkpoint.

What was it?I don't remember. I don't recall the name, but I know it was a large, main checkpoint. The meaning of that was that after the ride, they had to wait.

Panorama Checkpoint is a very small checkpoint?Relatively small.

What kind of briefing would you get there?The briefing was very simple. They'd tell us: Listen, Bethlehem is not considered dangerous for soldiers, but it's number one in producing suicide bombers. So the emphasis is on inspecting vehicles and checking people crossing over. Now, there was nothing unreasonable about that, but the attitude it implies, was clearly and necessarily tough. Be tough, otherwise the world will fall apart. Be tough because that's how you are.

Doesn't this checkpoint connect road no. 60 – traveled by Israeli vehicles – or Jerusalem?Yes, it connects you to some exit from Bethlehem.

It is located on an exit, not in the middle of town?It's like, there are the outskirts of Bethlehem and there's Bethlehem city, and this is in between.

Al Khader is considered one of the suburbs of Bethlehem.Yes, but it wasn't Al Khader. Al Khader is less a suburb of Bethlehem, more a locality in its own right. Like Jerusalem and Mevaseret. So we were in this situation and it was very unpleasant.