Bethlehem (300), Zeta, Tue 10.1.12, Morning
“…A good day! Great…” a young Palestinian greeted us as he came smiling through the checkpoint.
Bethlehem– Checkpoint 300, 6:15 am:
A few pickup trucks belong to Israeli employers are parked outside the checkpoint. Which is a sign that – either everyone came through and out quickly – or that everything’s so jammed up inside that nobody’s coming out.
The way we were greeted when we entered was: “…A good day! Great…” and the smiles on the faces of people exiting made clear that they came through quickly and smoothly.
Four inspection booths are open, people flow through. We’re told there’s no line at all at the entrance.
One of the laborers is refused entry. The DCL representatives takes the guy’s valid permit, calls the DCL office to check on the computer, and tells him in fluent Arabic that he has to go to Etzion to find out why the police put a hold on him. Drora recognizes the DCL officer and goes over to say hello. He’s known as one who solves problems and is usually located in the rear, on the Palestinian side, at the entrance to the checkpoint, where the problems are concentrated.
While we’re talking to him, a man approaches him saying, “…This is how it should be every day, empty above, 5 minutes and you’re out…” Another man praises the officer: “…You’re the best…” The Messianic era has arrived.
Drora asks about the humanitarian crossing; there had been a problem with the hours it was open, but it was taken care of.
We hear one of the female soldiers screaming over the loudspeaker. The DCL officer promises to have the technicians fix the defective device.
A young female teacher who teaches a special subject in Jewish schools addresses us in English, bringing us back to earth: “…Today was good…” she reports, “…but there are days when the soldiers treat me with contempt, and I tell them I have Jewish pupils and I treat everyone with respect …”
Zeitim Crossing: we left early to reach the Zeitim checkpoint at 7:00, to take a boy to the hospital for dialysis. There were no problems at the Zeitim crossing either.
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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Zeta South (564)
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Zeta South (564) Agricultural checkpoint. Allows passage to farmers whose lands have been imprisoned beyond the Separation Barrier. The crossing is allowed for special permit holders, for three days a week: noon and afternoon for 15 minutes at a time. The Palestinians who need to pass are complaining about the short times and the few days they can work on their land.
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