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Bethlehem (300), Fri 7.6.13, Morning

Place: Bethlehem (300)
Tags: Children Passage Restrictions
Observers: Efrat B. Clair Oren, Translator: Naomi Gal
Jun-07-2013
| Morning

 

9:00 to 11:00 

Four windows are open most of the time, sometimes a woman soldier goes on a break and 3 are left. Many Palestinians arrive today, accompanied by children. Again the scenes of bewildered parents who are forced to let their sons and daughters 6 or 7 years old  return home alone because they do not have permits to pass.

On the other hand  at the checkpoint there is a police officer Eyal and who comes out several times during the shift to hurry  the Palestinians  on and  minimize the queue.

A security guard inquires whether we are allowed to stand in the CP because he has heard otherwise. We explain that human rights organizations definitely have permission to stand inside the checkpoint and observe what’s going on. 

  • 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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