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Bethlehem (300), Etzion DCL, Thu 24.5.12, Afternoon

Place: Bethlehem (300) Etzion DCO
Tags: DCO (District Coordination Offices) Slow passage Soldiers at checkpoints
Observers: Shlomit S., Ora A. (reporting)
May-24-2012
| Afternoon

 

Etzion DCL                 

14.15

 

It was just like last week : the number of people waiting was not great, like last week, the soldiers were working slowly like last week, the people leaving the DCL told us about the same problems and the same disappointments as last week.

 

   Like last week, Shlomit succeeded to persuade the duty officer to be lenient and allow a young chap who came to the DCL today to enter, even though its not the day allocated for his village, and thus saved him from having to come again and lose a day’s work.

 

  • 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   .

  • Etzion DCO

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    •   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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