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Bethlehem (300)

Place: Bethlehem (300)
Tags: Transfer Permits to Israel
Observers: Clair Oren,Translation: Naomi Gal
Mar-04-2016
| Morning

 

 

Bethlehem 

09:00 to 10:40

There is only one security guard. No officer came out; even the ecumenical volunteers didn’t show up.

Two windows are open, for a short time a third window was opened.

People arrived all the time and passed after a short wait. Today there are no long queues.

Occasionally they send someone back and do not allow him to pass to Jerusalem.

Someone made contact regarding someone else, a very old man, who was not allowed to pass. I approached him, an old man with a red kufiyah. He says that for the last 10 years he is trying his luck on Fridays and doesn’t understand why they do not let him pass. He is GSS prevented.

A woman arrives but it turns out that her permit expired yesterday, on Thursday.

This of course is nothing compared to what we saw on television about the condition of this checkpoint on weekdays.

 

 

  • 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   .
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