Bethlehem (300)
9:00 to 11:00
Throughout the whole shift only one window is open. I requested an additional window, the response: there is no manpower. However a policewoman came out 5 times, stood before the gate between the windows and swiftly passed people over the age of 40 and those with permits for prayer on Friday.
The soldier in the window was quite blunt and impatient, especially when people got tired of waiting and tried to "sneak in".
Two elderly people, a man and a woman, who were rejected, continued to wait from 10.00 hoping to pass anyway. The man had a permit, but according to the policewoman and the security guard it had long expired (12/5). The old man insisted that this is a new permit and that it’s valid until 5/12 …
The older woman is probably conducting a personal struggle against the occupation. She presents herself without a permit (or is she prevented from passing?) and tries her luck every week. This time it did not work even though she was crawling under the carousel and tried to pass time and again. The soldier called for a policeman to take away the two older people.
I could not resist and turned to the policewoman: "I understand that apparently they don’t have permits, but who are these older people threatening? They could be your grandparents. Maybe you can check on your computer and make sure they are not dangerous and allow them to go to pray?"
The response: "I will not answer you."
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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