Bethlehem (300)
We asked and were granted help at the entrance to the “sterile” area, where the men pass.
As a consequence of some grounds improvements, pressure at the buses’ exit was avoided. Wherever possible sheds were added, a relief in the sweltering heat. Adherence to age and other restrictions was particularly strict. We saw mostly older people; the lowering of the age limit for passing without prevention was an illusion. How many youngsters who are not prevented are there, and how many of them wish to pray in Jerusalem?
The passage at the first stop was quick, but at the second stop there were long and crowded lines.
Every few minutes, the group of sheepish people appeared, headed by a soldier, holding their identity cards, with two members of Civil Society with pointed guns guarding the “infiltrators”.
The soldiers and their commanders are trying to be polite and help those in need of assistance, but they explained to us what a great “favor” they were doing the Palestinians by letting them pass to prayers. As we have heard it from soldiers and officers, it seems that this is the explanation they received in preparation for Ramadan.
We heard from Palestinian friends that there were many young people in the mosque who jumped walls and the barbed wire from all directions; as we know, all these bars do not stop anyone who is determined to enter.
We left after four blazing hours.
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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