בית לחם (300
Bethlehem 30 May, 2014
Clair Oren
09:20 to 10:40
Three open windows, a short queue of Palestinians. 2 security guards. At the gate stands an Ecumenical volunteer.
Shortly after I arrived I heard someone tell the guards on the radio "Tell her to get out…” or something along these lines. I didn’t immediately understand this was referred to me but the security guards turned to me and said:
– Did you hear?
– What??
– You should not be here. You must get out.
– You know I'm allowed to be here and that I always stand here.
– There are new procedures and now it’s forbidden.
– Call the commander and you’ll see that you are wrong.
– I'm in command here.
When I refused to leave the security guards ordered the soldiers to stop checking and letting people pass. I was furious and of course left (I certainly would not want Palestinians to wait longer because of me). This triggered a wave of laughter, applause and ridicule from the guards.
I called the center; they suggested I talk to the ombudsman. Alon promised to check and get back to me. He indeed called back and said that there must be a new instruction; it is still unclear who gave the order and why. He will find out but doesn’t promise to get back with an answer today.
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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