Bethlehem (300)
At first 2 windows are open, later on 4.
Occasionally many people arrive together and a jam is created. Men arrive with their belts in their hands and put it back on while walking; enough time has been wasted inside the checkpoint. They pass a bag with documents from one hand to the other while threading the belt and so they come out into the fresh air and breathe some freedom…
As usual a number of Palestinians arrivea at the booth on the Israeli side and only then discover that they don’t have the necessary paperwork in order to pass to the Israeli side; and are forced to turn back. A man claims to be 50 but this is the age for permit-free passage for women… One woman says she’s 50 but the computer discloses her true age: 47 and she is forced to cancel her plans and return to Bethlehem.
The soldiers in the booth are apparently bored and one of them is regularly emitting discordant sounds. Palestinian women turn around terrified and retreat as quickly as they can.
Two security-guards sit, talk, and are harmless but one of them releases a sarcastic, contemptuous remark to a Palestinian woman who did not understand from where she had to enter toward Bethlehem. After all, the Palestinians must not disturb each other when entering and exiting to and from Bethlehem while using the same window. Later they change window 3 so now it serves people going toward Bethlehem – which really makes sense and is necessary.
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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