Bethlehem CP, El Nashash, Etzion
Bethlehem CP, El Nashash, EtzionSunday, Feb 25 ,07Observers: Sylvia P, Chana A (reporting)7:00 Bethlehem CP: Crowds still waiting to pass through and only three windows open. After a relatively good record last week, this week started badly. People were complaining and bitter. We met the Ecumenical group, which is undergoing a change of guard, and dealt with two cases of children with doctor’s appointments not being let through. One was a case of an 11 year old boy with kidney disease who came with his father who had a worker’s permit. They were told that this permit does not allow entry for the children (merchants’ permits do, why?), so the boy couldn’t come in. The soldier in the booth called the officer, a young pleasant looking guy, who allowed for an exception in this case. Surprisingly, after a few minutes one of the Christian women we know well came with her grandson, also 11 years old, who had an orthodontist’s appointment. She has a worker’s permit and was not allowed to take him into the city. The officer was again called and finally allowed the grandson to come in. We asked if these were new regulations, and he said No. Evidently they were not enforced before.At 7:40 the CP was still full of people. The line thinned out at about 8:00.8:15 El Nashash: As was reported here last week, the roadblock has been removed and the road repaired. One can now drive from Hebron all the way to Bethlehem in the same vehicle. The “instant” market has disappeared (and with it the piping hot coffee we used to imbibe). Altogether a big improvement. The gas station is functioning.On the way, at the exit from the tunnels, we went through the new road which we watched being constructed for the past year or more.9:00 Etzion DCL: Windy and cold. The new waiting room is being constructed and at this rate it shouldn’t take more than a month. People waiting to get their special permits for medical and other reasons and the workers waiting for their permits. The special permits were being issued at a slow pace, but until 10:00 no work permits were distributed.
Hebron
See all reports for this place-
According to Wye Plantation Accords (1997), Hebron is divided in two: H1 is under Palestinian Authority control, H2 is under Israeli control. In Hebron there are 170,000 Palestinian citizens, 60,000 of them in H2. Between the two areas are permanent checkpoints, manned at all hours, preventing Palestinian movement between them and controlling passage of permit holders such as teachers and schoolchildren. Some 800 Jews live in Avraham Avinu Quarter and Tel Rumeida, on Givat HaAvot and in the wholesale market.
Checkpoints observed in H2:
- Bet Hameriva CP- manned with a pillbox
- Kapisha quarter CP (the northern side of Zion axis) - manned with a pillbox
- The 160 turn CP (the southern side of Zion axis) - manned with a pillbox
- Avraham Avinu quarter - watch station
- The pharmacy CP - checking inside a caravan with a magnometer
- Tarpat (1929) CP - checking inside a caravan with a magnometer
- Tel Rumeida CP - guarding station
- Beit Hadassah CP - guarding station
Three checkpoints around the Tomb of the Patriarchs
Muhammad D.May-13-2026Hebron - Request for compensation for land expropriation
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