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Bethlehem (300), Fri 18.1.13, Morning

Place: Bethlehem (300)
Tags: Arbitrariness, e.g. an arbitrary decision
Observers: Efrat B., Claire Oren
Jan-18-2013
| Morning

Translation: Yael Bassis-Student

 

Bethlehem checkpoint 9:15 –10:45

Many people go through, without the need to wait on the Jerusalem side. No one was denied passage during our shift. There was a question regarding two women, who presented a permit that in the female soldier's opinion at the booth had expired. She called the officer who inspected the forms, listened, and finally allowed them to go through.

Part of the people are Christians who take advantage of the final days of their permits received for Christmas and the New year. Some have permits valid through Jan.18th. and others until Jan.21st. It is unclear whether the difference in the dates have to do with their church affiliation or simply arbitrariness of the occupation.

When we left we saw the iron gate inside the wall open. A Palestinian told us earlier that Abu-Mazen was due to visit Bethlehem. We did not see Abu-Maze but rather a long convoy escorted by soldiers riding on horses hoisting Israeli  flags and inside the cars there were clerics who seemed to have escorted a dignitary maybe of the Armenian church.

  • 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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