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Bethlehem (300)

Place: Bethlehem (300)
Tags: Passage Restrictions
Observers: Hannah Bar”g. Translation: Naomi Gal
Aug-01-2014
| Morning

Dilution – Today’s title for the shift

8:20: we arrived at the checkpoint after we heard over the radio that the passage for worshipers had been considerably reduced.  We found an empty checkpoint. We asked what this meant and learned that a policy of “dilution” was declared. Another laundered word. Indeed the “dilution” was quite prominent. Very few people passed, mainly older women and much less older men and a few people who had special work permits for Fridays.

The civilian employees of the security company made ​​an effort to get into an argument with us, from which we dodged. The discourse was very "scary" by its extremism and racism. They are bored, and when we arrive the shift can be "revived".

A little boy, about 8 years old crawled under the window and the carousel and run quickly away from the checkpoint. The soldiers saw it but apparently decided to hold back. David and Goliath war!

We left at 10:15 when there were no more people at the checkpoint.

  • 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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