Al Nashshash, Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Wed 30.4.08, Morning
6:40 Bethlehem: A closure. Only church employees and people with special permits were allowed to pass. The lines were short and a few religious workers that came from Bethlehem passed and entered Israel. On the other hand there was a large group of Palestinian laborers, that had worked all night in Jerusalem and wanted to get home.
We tried finding out why they weren't allowed to pass. The soldier at the post said she called for the officer and that she would decide. The officer was in no hurry to arrive. Eventually the officer arrived and let them head back home.
7:40 El Nashash: There wasn't much traffic. No one came to us with problems.
8:00 Nabi Unis: No one came to us over there either.
8:30 Etzion DCL: The hall was full. About 80 people were waiting in line for the renewal of their magnetic cards. People complained that they had been waiting for many hours. One of them told us that he had been coming there for three days, waiting and not being able to enter. We called the officer Nevuani and asked him that he make the whole process faster. He came and spoke politely to us, he explained that it was crowded because a thousand cards had expired. There are only two computers so it all went slowly. According to him he had already informed the Palestinians in January that they would have to renew the cards in order to prevent this situation, "but they left it for the last minute". We offered several suggestions how to improve the situation, but they were not excepted.
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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