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Bethlehem (300), Etzion DCL

Observers: Hannah A. Goni Z. Ronit D. Translation: Naomi Gal
Mar-30-2014
| Morning

Bethlehem Checkpoint (Ronit reports)

6:30 – a lot of people and cars outside, but it is not very crowded. Our acquaintance is not yet sitting in his usual place. Inside there are 5 open windows, the hall is full. At windows 3 and 4 there is pressure and pushing, but a few minutes later policeman A. arrived, opened the gate and let people through till the pressure decreased. Then he would do this occasionally, when needed. It seemed that window 5 served as the Humanitarian Gate, because mostly women and older people passed through. All and all the ambiance was relaxed most of the time.

6:45 – our acquaintance arrived, greeted us and said that relatively it is fine today.

7:05 – Y. the kidney transplanted child and his mother arrive. He is well and they are pleased. A little later it began emptying. At 7:15 they closed window 5 and the partition and a few minutes later they closed windows 3 and 4. There was no more pressure and 2 windows were enough.

7:25 – we left. Hannah and Goni continued to a meeting with Jamila (purchasing olive oil and olives) and to DCO.

 

Etzion DCO (Goni reports)

8:10 – Surprisingly, there were only a few applicants today at the first hours and they were all in the first stages of inquiries. We responded to each with the help of a local man who volunteered to translate for everyone into Arabic, with lots of patience, our explanation of the terms of submitting the required documents for applications for removing GSS prevention. As usual, we sent the police prevented people to Haya.

Only around 9 o’clock some arrived, who had prepared in advance the required documents for applications to remove GSS preventions. For them we prepared power-of-attorneys so we could handle their cases and we wrote requests for orderly submission in the DCO window. We left when we were done, at 9:45

  • 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   .
  • Etzion DCO

    See all reports for this place
    •   serves residents of Bethlehem and surrounding villages who need magnetic cards, work permits for Israel, permits for one-time entry for religious or health reasons, various police permits, etc.
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