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Bethlehem (300)
Place:
Bethlehem (300)
Observers: Rachel M. Drora P., Translation: Naomi Gal
The people sitting on the fence waiting for transportation tell us the situation is terrible. From those closer to the building we hear the situation is good.
At the entrance to the building we met two women observers for the Ecumenical. They report that usually it takes them 20 minutes to cross from the entrance in the wall to the exit. Today it took 45 minutes.
Later we witnessed the pace of the working soldiers – very slow. Afterwards we met with one of the policemen who tried to relieve the crowdedness by checking at the gate and not on the internet. We heard from him that all the soldiers are new. One of the women who were passing complained that the Humanitarian Gate came loose, is swinging and might hurt someone.
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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