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Bethlehem (300)

Place: Bethlehem (300)
Tags: Passage Restrictions Ramadan
Observers: Natanya Ginsburg, Hanna Barag (observers), J.H. (translation)
Jun-23-2017
| Morning

The last Friday of Ramadan

8:00 Compared to previous years, the traffic from the Palestinian side seems rather light. Permit examinations were thorough and young men under fourteen were prevented from crossing through.
The Palestinian police officers and Palestinian Authority representatives did their best to prevent young men from entering the checkpoint. Have they become accustomed to the occupation?
The line for women extends up the hill, which is difficult for many of the older women. After exiting the checkpoint there’s still a ways to walk to reach the buses, in the heat and under the sun. The path for men is much more comfortable.
Filth is accumulating alongside the walkways.
The shuttle buses operated quickly and efficiently. Part of Hebron Road and adjacent streets were blocked off from Israeli traffic. This allowed buses to travel quickly from the checkpoint to the Old City.
Observing the checkpoint on Fridays during Ramadan accentuates the violence of the occupation, even when there’s no physical or verbal violence perpetrated by the army or police. Freedom of worship? Festive holiday atmosphere?
We had to leave at 10:30 for personal reasons.

  • 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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