Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Fri 28.3.08, Morning
Bethlehem Checkpoint
9:00- Outside there were 6 transits waiting. One of the drivers noted out that the number of checkpoints keeps increasing- the situation keeps getting worse.
Inside there were two open lanes. The lines were very short, 2 to 7 people. One security guard was wandering about the entrance, after a couple of minutes he went upstairs for a patrol and then came down again.
In comparison to Fridays there were many families wishing to pass. A woman accompanied by her family wanted to pass with her nephew, a boy of 8 years old. They arrived at the checkpoint without a permit. The soldier detained them- eventually he called the commander who told him not to make a big deal out of this. Everyone passed.
Mostly students and tourists needed to enter Bethlehem.
During that morning there were moments in which no one was in line. It was cold inside, but outside the sun was stroking.
A little boy passed with his father, he held two belts in his hand, one was his own and the other his father's.
Ezyon DCL
9:45- There were three vehicles; one of them was the UN's.
At the vehicle checkpoint behind the new building and elder man was waiting. He stepped forward and talked to the soldiers. He asked them for a permit for his sister, so that she could go to the hospital on Sunday. The soldier insisted that he would only know at noon. He wouldn't give him a telephone number so that he could call him and find out. The soldier instead to the number of the man and said he would call. One of the soldiers spoke to him in Arabic. There was an officer and another soldier as well. It was obvious that they didn't understand why he was so concerned and worried. They kept saying that everything would be dealt with, and that he could return in two hours.
We gave him Dalia Bassa's number.
While this was going on a Palestinian truck with a crane arrived. The checkpoint opened and it immediately entered. The line that separates that Palestinian man talking to the soldiers hadn't been trespassed the whole time even when the truck entered.
Bethlehem (300)
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Located adjacent to the Separation Wall ("Jerusalem Wrap") at the north entrance to Bethlehem, this checkpoint cuts off Bethlehem and the entire West Bank from East Jerusalem, with all the serious implications for health services, trade, education, work and the fabric of life. The checkpoint is manned by the Border police and private security companies. It is an extensive infrastructure barrier and is designated as a border terminal, open 24 hours a day for foreign tourists. Israeli passport holders are not allowed to pass to Bethlehem, and Palestinian residents are not allowed to enter Jerusalem, except those with entry permits to Israel and East Jerusalem residents. Israeli buses are allowed to travel to Bethlehem only through this checkpoint.The checkpoint, which demonstrated harsh conditions of crowding and extreme passage delays for years, started employing advanced electronic identification posts and has upgraded its gates' system as of the middle of 2019 - and conditions improved.Adjacent to the checkpoint, in an enclosure between high walls and another passage, is the historic Rachel's Tomb, which is now embedded within a concrete fortified building. It contains prayer and study complexes for Jews only, as well as a residential complex. updated November 2019 .
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Etzion DCO
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serves residents of Bethlehem and surrounding villages who need magnetic cards, work permits for Israel, permits for one-time entry for religious or health reasons, various police permits, etc.
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