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Bethlehem (300)

Observers: Sylvia P., Hannah A., Goni Z., Ronit D., Translator: Naomi Gal
Feb-02-2014
| Morning

 

Bethlehem Checkpoint (the Israeli side) 
06:45 – Goni and I arrive at the Checkpoint. Outside it’s busy as usual, filled with people and cars. Our acquaintance is already sitting in his usual place and tells us that if he is here already it means that the passage today was fine. Inside the hall is packed but not overcrowded. Four windows are open and passage flows smoothly. The security guard greets us, says that earlier it was chaotic, now pressure has subsided. He helps a young boy who wants to pass to Bethlehem and doesn’t know just where to pass. The guard is troubled about a young woman who is waiting outside and talking on the phone. It turns out she is a student waiting for her friend. The friend arrives and they cross to  Bethlehem.

A woman arrives with a young girl. She tries to go through one of the windows. It doesn’t work. She moves to another window. There too they won’t let her pass. Apparently she is accompanying her young daughter to a medical treatment. She turns for help to the officer and the guard and the officer lets her pass.

07:00 – Before 07:00 the checkpoint is almost empty. A few people arrive and they pass immediately. Two  windows close causing the rise of a small queue in front of the two open ones, but there is no pressure. Meanwhile, Sylvia and Hannah arrived and joined us. Y. the child who had a kidney transplant arrives with his mother. We greet them and are happy to see how well the boy looks; he has gained weight and grown taller. His mother is pleased to report that he feels good.

other people is undesirable and they often have unpleasant experiences, but they don't believe that we should go back to the borders of 1967.

07:25 –The hall is completely empty. As usual people who were helped or who need help for relatives and friends turn to Sylvia. We leave. Outside the coffee and pretzel sellers ask us to come every day. When we come it is better, they say, but we have to remind them that sometimes the pressure is great and there are problems even when we are there.

I had to leave at this point. The others did not report any special events at the DCO. Occupation routine.

 

  • 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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