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Bethlehem (300), Fri 30.3.12, Morning

Place: Bethlehem (300)
Tags: Blockage of Life Passage Restrictions Soldiers at checkpoints
Observers: Efrat B., Claire Oren (both reporting)
Mar-30-2012
| Morning

Bethlehem – Checkpoint 300:     
09.00 – 10.30

Three inspection stations are open and there are almost no people passing through.  

 

Israel announced a closure of all the checkpoints (during the Passover holiday ).

Only humanitarian cases pass through the checkpoint and, according to one of the soldiers, also Christians who have received  a permit for their (Easter) holiday are passing. The Palestinians who arrive at the checkpoint are equipped with all the necessary documents and permits. A young  woman with a 4-year old boy who needs to have an operation is held-up for a long time until the female soldier verifies that all the documents are really in order, but she is eventually allowed through with her son, as are the rest of the people.

No noise is heard from the other (Palestinian) side of the checkpoint.  Only a few people enter Bethlehem.

On the road, and around the checkpoint there are many army forces.

At the Nablus gate (Bab el Hallil) there are very many soldiers and policemen on horseback. The gate is closed except for a narrow passage where people are inspected.

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  • Bethlehem (300)

    See all reports for this place
    • 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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