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Bethlehem (300)

Place: Bethlehem (300)
Tags: Passage Restrictions
Observers: Hedva Briljant, Natanya Ginsburg
Jul-05-2016
| Morning

We arrived at 5.45. There were  people coming through but much fewer than usual.

The soldiers and security guards were friendly. The one whom we had seen smoking the previous week was sitting down, not seeming very alert as to what was happening but at least he was not smoking.
An old woman had trouble going through….we were not sure what was happening but eventually it turned out that though she was “prevented” she insisted on coming to the Israeli side  followed by a woman soldier and one of the security guards and then it turned out that she had just wanted to go and pick up a parcel which someone had  brought her. She was treated very politely. But as the soldier said instead of all that fuss why could someone simply not have brought it to her. The thought struck us though that had someone brought it inside and handed it to her it might have also not have been so simple.

We left at 7.00 as all was quiet.

  • 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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