Al Nashshash, Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Wed 9.7.08, Morning
Nabi Unis
Bethlehem – Rahel checkpoint: The passage was fast, efficient and quiet. We also heard nothing from the interior room that would suggest a large crowd. At the entrance to the wall there is only one turnstile and soldiers let groups enter the building, so they have control over the flow of people. It's true that soldiers at the inspection posts are also trained. All in all the waiting time is much shorter now than before, but people still had to wait for an hour and a half and sometimes longer. One of the officers told us that in two weeks there will be another entrance. The entrance will be through a turnstile and it will be used for medical events, elder people and women – a "humanitarian" turnstile. The officer also said that there was a shed on the other side of the wall. We shall ask next week the ecumenicals about that.
The soldiers have started all over again to send people back to the DCL to renew their hand prints. One person said that he has already renewed his prints two weeks ago. Ever since he didn't have any problem passing, but now he is refused. When he was on his way to work this morning he was told to renew his prints again. It didn't make a difference when we asked that they let him pass and promised that he would renew the prints on the next day. Another day of work was wasted. There must be a way to make process easier. Since the whole hand print thing is arbitrary why can't they give the person a notification ahead of time?
Al Nashshash: Someone came to us for advise. This time it was a good thing we waited.
Nabi Unis: We were asked for help with the usual problems: a person was denied passage by the GSS and the police.
Etzion DCL: It was extremely hot outside. There were about 80 people in the waiting hall and the air conditioner wasn't working. Most of those waiting were young people waiting for their magnetic card. As there weren't enough active posts and not enough men power, some people waited from the morning until the end of the day. They weren't given any service and were told to return on the next day and start the procedure all over again.
A person complained that his previous employer didn't pay his fee to the employment exchange in spite of the fact that he had to pay for a considerable amount from the price of the permit. We gave him the number of Kav La'Oved.
A-Nashshash
See all reports for this place-
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.
-
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 .
-
Etzion DCO
See all reports for this place-
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.
-