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Al Nashshash, Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Nabi Yunis, Wed 19.11.08, Morning
Observers: Rachel M., Ora A. (reporting). Yoseph M. (driving and assisting)
06:45 AM, Bethlehem Checkpoint: surprise. This time a nice surprise: when we arrived many people stood outside who already passed the checkpost and were waiting for transportation and others came towards us in a fast and unending flow and told us happily that ‘today is a good day’.Inside there were 5 manned posts and even though in all of them handprints were examined, there were no long lines and the passage was speedy. At 07:15 the lines were finished! There were no more people wanting to pass.Last week at that same time there were enormous lines and pushing and ado at the entrance to Bethlehem, and practically no people reached the windows coming out of Jerusalem. Last week at the same time there were enormous lines and crush and ado at the entrance to Bethlehem, and practically no people came to the windows at the exit from Jerusalem. Today the people were not held up for any length of time at the entrance and let them pass rapidly to the exit. What caused this blessed change? Will it continue? Can we ascribe it to our influence?
07:30 AM, Al Nashshash: lively movement of vehicles. The driver of a transit vehicle asks for our help.
07:50 AM, Etzion DCL: not many people waiting compared to last week. It becomes clear that a village where a curfew is in force today is allowed to approach the DCL Etzion. They could not get there before and thus there was no large public to wait and they gave numbers to practically everyone waiting outside (some 80 persons). A man approached us whose ID was taken from him at ‘Rachel passage’. When he requested it be returned to him he was sent to Etzion and at Etzion it was not found and he was referred again to ‘Rachel passage’. We tried to help him to find his ID. Another person asked our help for a problem with the police. He tried to speak to the policeman at the DCL. He had been at the DCL 5 times and still did not manage to get in. We called the policeman and got no answer. The soldier at the window told us that the policeman is now on his way and will arrive at the DCL in another two hours. The man said that from his experience he will be told in another two hours that the policeman will not come and that he should return again tomorrow. We directed him to Chaya who maybe can complain to the superior of the policeman and help the man to solve his problem.
08:45 AM, Nabi Yunis: an older man asked for help in solving a problem that we are unable to help him with. We advised him to consult a lawyer.
07:30 AM, Al Nashshash: lively movement of vehicles. The driver of a transit vehicle asks for our help.
07:50 AM, Etzion DCL: not many people waiting compared to last week. It becomes clear that a village where a curfew is in force today is allowed to approach the DCL Etzion. They could not get there before and thus there was no large public to wait and they gave numbers to practically everyone waiting outside (some 80 persons). A man approached us whose ID was taken from him at ‘Rachel passage’. When he requested it be returned to him he was sent to Etzion and at Etzion it was not found and he was referred again to ‘Rachel passage’. We tried to help him to find his ID. Another person asked our help for a problem with the police. He tried to speak to the policeman at the DCL. He had been at the DCL 5 times and still did not manage to get in. We called the policeman and got no answer. The soldier at the window told us that the policeman is now on his way and will arrive at the DCL in another two hours. The man said that from his experience he will be told in another two hours that the policeman will not come and that he should return again tomorrow. We directed him to Chaya who maybe can complain to the superior of the policeman and help the man to solve his problem.
08:45 AM, Nabi Yunis: an older man asked for help in solving a problem that we are unable to help him with. We advised him to consult a lawyer.
A-Nashshash
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A-Nashshash
Junction on Road 60 from leading to the southern outskirts of al-Khader, to Salomon pools and to Bethlehem. Until 2015, a blockade at the junction prevented the passage of vehicles from the south (from Hebron) to Bethlehem and from there to the north of the West Bank and vice versa, and a small market developed at the junction, with taxis serving both directions on two sides of the blockage. Until 2015, Members of MachsomWatch police reports team would come to the scene to receive and return traffic violations reports for payment (possible only in Israel).- from Palestinians without a entrance permit to Israel. There is usually no military or police supervision i n place.
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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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Etzion DCO
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serves residents of Bethlehem and surrounding villages who need magnetic cards, work permits for Israel, permits for one-time entry for religious or health reasons, various police permits, etc.
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Nabi Yunis
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Nabi YunisA meeting place at the junction of Route 60 and the road leading to the eastern entrance to Hebron.
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