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Beit Ummar, Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Nabi Yunis, Mon 28.3.11, Morning

Observers: Haya O., Ada G. (reporting)
Mar-28-2011
| Morning

07.10  am, Bethlehem – Checkpoint 300:   the situation in the checkpoint this morning is extremely bad, the crossing takes a long time, and people have been waiting for hours. In the hall one can hear the noise of many people waiting outside.

Three inspection stations are open, but there are hardly any people in front of them, they are not allowed to pass, everyone is angry, on edge and hurrying.

We telephone the officer in command and he tells us that the crossing is not his responsibility, but the police’s – but the policeman is not in the area. In the meantime, our telephone calls don’t help.

08.00 am, Etzion DCL:  about 30 people are waiting. The officer distributes queue numbers according to a list prepared by the Palestinians.

The weekly incident : a young-looking man approaches us and tells us that he cannot get an entry permit to go to a hospital, because he is on the GSS – denied list. It appears that the young man lost an eye in Hebron when he was 14 years old some years ago, due to a soldier’s fire, perhaps a rubber bullet. He sued the army and the case, which took years, resulted in the army being ordered to pay him damages. In the meantime, he often has to go for treatment to the eye hospital on the Mount of Olives, but he cannot get an entry permit. We ask Hannah for help. Is this a case of “An eye for an eye “ ?

08.30 am, Beit Ummar:   the soldiers at the entrance prevent people from waiting as usual. The barrier at the entrance has been lowered.

09.00 am, Nabi Yunis:    only a few people come for help today. This has been a short shift.

  • Beit Ummar

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    • Beit Ummar

      The Gush Etzion-Hebron road - which is the main axis of  the southern Hebron Mountains - passes through the boundaries of the village. Many incidents of stone throwing occurred on this section of road. There is a checkpoint at the entrance to the village.

      In March 2006, a 25-dunam land seizure order was issued around the settlement for the purpose of establishing a "special security area" (SHBM) and a warning fence around the nearby settlement, Carmei Tzur. In April 2019, 401 dunams of the land of the villages of Beit Omer and Halhul were expropriated for the purpose of paving a road that bypasses the house of Omer to the east.  Demonstrations are held by the villagers against the seizure of land with the participation of Palestinian, Israeli and international activists.

  • 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   .
  • 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.
  • Nabi Yunis

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    • Nabi Yunis

      A meeting place at the junction of Route 60 and the road leading to the eastern entrance to Hebron.

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