There are rumours of war in the area. Armed soldiers hover around the checkpoint, ever alert.
Few people walk the dark streets.
In my mind I imagine that somewhere a woman screams giving birth, like she screamed the night the soldiers raped her, just as they have raped her land and occupied her people. I already know about the occupation. The stories of violence I will hear over and over again on my visit. I am finally in my hotel in the centre of Bethlehem. The security check at the Tel Aviv airport was uncomfortable.