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Bethlehem (300)
Place:
Bethlehem (300)
Observers: נתניה ג.
I took a taxi at 5 am to The Bethlehem checkpoint opposite Tantur the pavements were empty though from pervious years I remember them as being crowded with workers. But the road itself turning to the right was already full workers…very few women,…rushing while others were sitting on the sidewalk, smoking and chatting. Some asked why I was photographing and had no problem, others asked me not to…which of course I honored.
Many people were sleeping in blankets on the sidewalk near the checkpoint oblivious to the shouts and cars around them. One man who woke up told me had had left Ramallah and 2 and than got through to the Israeli side by 4 and had gone to sleep. His employer would fetch him at 7..
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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