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Gush Etzion: We celebrate and they are always enslaved

Tags: Ramadan
Observers: Hagit (Reporting and Photos), Driver: Mohammed Translation: Bracha Ben-Avraham
Apr-18-2022
| Morning

It was the second day of the week of the Passover holiday for Jews and the middle of the month of Ramadan for the Muslims.The weather was extremely hot.  We did not meet any people.  All the grocery stores were closed while we were there because of the Ramadan fast   

We refrained from visiting our friend from Rosh Diya because of the Ramadan fast.  We spoke to him on the phone and he sounded tired. 

We visited the settlements of Pnei Kedem, Meitzar, Nahalat Yair, Tekoa, Nokdim, Ma’aleh Amos, and Ibei Nachal.  The construction in the settlements continued throughout the Passover holiday.   The Palestinian communities were quiet.  Life during Ramadan takes place at night.

Many Jews wearing skull caps were in the campground at Herodian, Nachal Tekoa, and other tourist sites among the settlements.

The army was present everywhere.  

The Jews are free to travel between the sea and the Jordan River, while the Palestinians are not.

  • 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   .
  • Hebron

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    • According to Wye Plantation Accords (1997), Hebron is divided in two: H1 is under Palestinian Authority control, H2 is under Israeli control. In Hebron there are 170,000 Palestinian citizens, 60,000 of them in H2. Between the two areas are permanent checkpoints, manned at all hours, preventing Palestinian movement between them and controlling passage of permit holders such as teachers and schoolchildren. Some 800 Jews live in Avraham Avinu Quarter and Tel Rumeida, on Givat HaAvot and in the wholesale market.

       

      Checkpoints observed in H2:

       

      1. Bet Hameriva CP- manned with a pillbox
      2. Kapisha quarter CP (the northern side of Zion axis) - manned with a pillbox
      3. The 160 turn CP (the southern side of Zion axis) - manned with a pillbox
      4. Avraham Avinu quarter - watch station
      5. The pharmacy CP - checking inside a caravan with a magnometer
      6. Tarpat (1929) CP - checking inside a caravan with a magnometer
      7. Tel Rumeida CP - guarding station
      8. Beit Hadassah CP - guarding station

      Three checkpoints around the Tomb of the Patriarchs

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