Al Nashshash, Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Wed 30.7.08, Morning
Nebi Yunes
06:35 AM, Bethlehem Checkpoint: Hundreds of workers waiting outside for transport. Inside four positions are open, lines are short and transit is quick. People coming out say that on the Bethlehem side a lot of people are crowded. People jump over the fence to stand at the front of the line. One of them tells us that he jumped but it still took an hour to pass.
Another told us that he waited by the entrance from 04:00, and nevertheless only arrived at the exit after an hour and a half. They all say that yesterday was worse. We phone the Ecumenicals who, at this hour, are usually on the Bethlehem side, and if there is a problem they approach the Humanitarian Centre, but it appears they have moved to Nablus and will not be back till September.
07:30 AM, Al Nashshash: No one approaches us.
08:30 AM, Nebi Yunes: Soldiers stand close to the junction, stopping cars, checking IDs of passengers and the car. We stand by them. The inspection is done quietly. After a short while they drive off.
08:40 AM, Etzion DCL: As usual recently, the waiting room is full. Our complaints about crowding and slowness did nothing, and our advice on how to give out numbers in an efficient and just way was not accepted. Today they did not distribute numbers. Somebody said “They give numbers to people who enter.” Till now only a few have entered. The pace is very slow. Two blacklisted people approached us, and a man who could not read the writing on a cheque asked us to translate. I read that the cheque (for 1600 shekels) was cancelled. He left angrily.
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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