Bethlehem (300), Etzion DCL, Thu 8.11.12, Afternoon
Translator: Charles K.
14:15 – A man complained to us that although he has a document from the police confirming he is no longer blacklisted, he was told at the DCO that he’s still blacklisted in the computer. We referred him to Chaya.
An older man who’s been blacklisted by the Shabak for the past two years told us that he paid an attorney NIS 8,000 who was unsuccessful in cancelling it. We referred him to Sylvia.
Two young men exited, one after the other. The first received a permit to visit his father who’s hospitalized in Israel. The second, whose wife is in Jerusalem, received a family reunification permit valid for one year.
We were told eight people were waiting inside for magnetic cards.
15:30 Three older men who’d gotten what they requested came out. They said they arrived at the DCO at 13:30 – in other words, they’d waited two hours.
A man about 40 years old bitterly complained that he’d been refused an entry permit to Jerusalem to take care of a relative with cancer. The relative has no first-degree relatives in Israel. We spoke with Dalya Bessa’s office; they told us he does have a permit and should go back to the DCO to obtain it. He returned, but didn’t get it. They told him to obtain a new permit from the hospital. Why? They didn’t bother to explain. Arbitrariness? Malice?
A young woman who teaches computers in the university applied for a new magnetic card. She’d lost hers. The soldier yelled at her in Arabic to look for it again. We spoke to the humanitarian office; apparently as a result of our intervention she was allowed to re-enter. This time she was told to report the loss to the court.
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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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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