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Beit Ummar, Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Sun 2.10.11, Afternoon

Place: Beit Ummar Bethlehem (300) Etzion DCO
Observers: Daniela G. (reporting Heb.), Maya B.-H. (reporting Eng.)
Oct-02-2011
| Afternoon

 

Etzion DCL, 15:30: not a car or a soul insight — except for the soldier
 behind the glass window and carousel.
"How many are there inside?"
"3", he answers.
A refreshing change from the universal "15" the
 Palestinians favor. A man arrives, and is immediately whisked in.

 We drove southwards towards Beit Ummar, and saw a few soldiers in full
 battle dress at the 2 entrances to El Arub.



  Bethlehem – Checkpoint 300: passage is a swift as the workers can make their

way
 through.

The grounds along route 60, and at the Checkpoint, are littered with a fortune
 worth of recyclable debris. An enterprising Palestinian who collected the debris and brought them to a supermarket might make more than their daily wage.
 Entrepreneurs are in short supply, old bottles and cans (and wrappers and
 other waste) in large supply.

  • 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.
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