Bethlehem (300)
5.15 – 6.45
At 5.15 there were streams of workers already on the pavements and coming through the checkpoint. So many that it was hard to make one’s way into the terminal. Most of the men hurried past, not meeting one’s eyes and if so just muttering how bad things were on the other side. One however did thrown out a “a thank you rights” as he went past with a smile. Until 6.45 less than 10 women had come through.
The only incident worthy of notice was a young man with his blind father/grandfather who was refused entrance because being under 16 he did not have an id or any other documents. I then noticed them coming through another window but so did the policeman. He took them aside to question them quietly and then allowed them to pass.
The security guard, politely, told me I could not stand there and when I said we had been doing so for years, he phoned and came back to say that the police had said to stand on the other side of the door. I had to swallow a smile as it meant from moving from one corner where I could lean comfortable to the other and made absolutely no difference. I remained where I was and neither the policeman when he came out nor the other three guards were in any way unpleasant. None of them seemed to have any idea of what Machsomwatch was. I tried to explain but then their attention was caught by two young men.
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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