Beit Ummar, Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Nabi Yunis, Mon 7.9.09, Morning
07.00 AM, Bethlehem – Checkpoint 300: five inspection stations are open, and few people pass through. There is heavy pressure on the Palestinian side and we hear excited and angry voices. According to the Palestinians, many people are waiting there. We hear the policeman give an order not to allow anyone to pass. A policeman and and security guards are patrolling on the bridges over the checkpoint with drawn weapons, and they are shouting. The security guards say that the metal detector is broken. Really ?
A representative of the administrative office thinks that the (operation of the) checkpoint is satisfactory.
One of the Ecumenical volunteers tells us that the humanitarian crossing was closed in the morning, the metal detector didn't work, and only after some time the third crossing was opened. He stressed that the Palestinians are never informed what is happening, what is closed, what is out of order, and so-on; the guards just shout and threaten, and don't explain anything.
1,927 people had crossed by 07.00, according to the ecumenical representatives.
08.00 AM, Etzion DCL: the DCL is open, and a few people are waiting. Today, the policeman is in the office.
08.30 AM, Beit Ummar: we distributed documents.
09.00 AM, Nabi Yunis: the road to Nabi Yunis is beautiful as usual, the grapes are ripening and the people are working. How much will they succeed to sell ? People bring us their problems with the police.
I want to ask you to help me to resolve a dilemma: A Palestinian wants to pay driving violation fines which he received before the year 2000, and we bring him payment vouchers and forms for rescheduling his debts from the centre for collecting fines in Jerusalem. The man tells us that he is on the GSS-refused list because his brother was shot by the army. We know from our experience that, because of this, even if he pays his debt he won't receive an entry permit to work in Israel.
What should we tell the man :
a. not to pay because it will be a waste of his money ?
b. to leave him with a shred of hope that he might receive a permit ?
c. what about our honesty in relation to Israeli law ?
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.
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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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Nabi Yunis
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Nabi YunisA meeting place at the junction of Route 60 and the road leading to the eastern entrance to Hebron.
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