Al Nashshash, Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Wed 18.6.08, Morning
Nebi Yunis
Bethlehem, 6:40 am: Five checking stations open. Only six to ten people waiting in line at each station. A man from the Ecumenical organization approaches us to say that at the entrance about 700 people are waiting to enter. It took him one hour to pass through. There is some "jumping over" to get in line, but no security person in sight to set things in order. We also meet three people from Oxfam, an advocacy and media organization from Britain. They are very interested to speak to us.
Al Nashshash, 7:15 am: No one approaches us for help.
Nebi Yunis, 7:50 am: During our stay here, soldiers set up a flying CP. They stop very few cars. One soldier asks me who we are. He is very polite and wishes me "a good day". He says they are looking for a particular person.
Etzion DCL, 8:40, am: About 50 people are waiting to renew their magnetic cards. They are being processed, but very slowly. Several persons with police matters were received. A man, ill with heart disease, tells us that he was visited at home by GSS to urge him to cooperate with them, so that he would receive special health care.
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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