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Place: Bethlehem (300)
Observers: Drora P, Rachel M (reporting)
Feb-01-2011
| Morning

 

Bethlehem – Checkpoint 300 (Rachel's Crossing):  also this morning, most of the people passing through this crossing were already outside.  Shortly before 07:00 there were still 5 active inspection stations. Then, at about 07:00 some of the stations were closed, and the stream of people shrunk to a trickle. One of the women was detained by a soldier in one of the stations. A police-officer insisted that she must return, and an argument took place between him and a civil administration officer about the solution to the problem.

The civil administration officer took the woman’s pass, consulted with someone and established that the woman was allowed to pass. We didn’t manage to find out exactly what was the problem.

  • 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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