Bethlehem (300), Fri 12.4.13, Morning
9:00 to 10:45
Translation: Neomi Gal
4 windows are open. Many people are passing today compared to last week. Perhaps the weather is more inviting, or maybe they are in a hurry to leave before the curfew of Memorial Day will again block them.
Every now and then a woman officer opens the gate between the two windows and swiftly moves people to reduce the queue.
At the windows, too, the passage is relatively quick although they insist on biometric identification by fingerprints and as usual the machine doesn’t always respond as expected. Besides, the soldiers repeatedly require the magnetic card but many leave it at home on Friday.
There is a feeling of "accommodating" the Palestinians this morning, including enabling the passage of groups of children. Only two people were sent back during the shift because they had no permit.
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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