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Beit Ummar, Bethlehem, Fri 16.7.10, Morning

Place: Beit Ummar Bethlehem (300)
Observers: Efrat B., Claire A. (both reporting)
Jul-16-2010
| Morning

Bethlehem – Checkpoint 300:   A terrible situation at the CP: apparently people have been waiting since 7:30 when the CP had been closed due to the visit of a group of young people assigned to conduct PR  and propaganda abroad on behalf of the Jewish Agency. They were shown the marvels and advancements of the CP while hundreds of Palestinians were crowded outside waiting in despair for the CP to open.

Finally, annoyed and angry Palestinians started emerging. A young woman remarked: go see what is going on at the other side. We explained that we were not allowed to cross over but had reported on the situation.

At Beit 'Ummar and surroundings we were assigned with several errands: collecting signatures and payments for legal counselling re annulment of a passage restriction.

  • 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   .
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