Bethlehem (300), Fri 27.4.12, Morning
Bethlehem – Checkpoin 300, 09:10 – 11:00 am
Summary: Our brave heroes on site neutralized the terrible threat to which we would have been exposed had they allowed an old woman and a little child to cross.
Three inspection stations open, no lines.
The massive presence of security personnel sets the tone.
An old woman arrives, bent, her face wrinkled. She clearly doesn’t understand Hebrew, nor is she impressed by fences, uniforms and weapons. She goes through with great difficulty, but the security personnel stand in her way and order her to return to Bethlehem. She ignores them, mutters “Ibni fi el-Quds,” and tries to pass, but they make clear that she can’t go through without a permit. We try to intervene: “Maybe you could use your discretion with respect to such an old woman?!” They give us the unanswerable reply, “Since you’re taking their side, why don’t you go live with them?”, and escort her back toward Bethlehem.
A similar incident occurs an hour later: A Palestinian, about 40 years old, apparently a businessman, arrives accompanied by his little boy (aged 5), on his way to a meeting in Jerusalem. He doesn’t yet know that, from age 5, a Palestinian child needs a permit, just like an adult. He takes a chance and approaches a guard who appears to have more authority, but without success. He’s forced to send his colleague to the meeting and return home with his son.
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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