Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Mon 1.2.10, Afternoon
14.00 Etzion DCL: we spent three hours at the DCL to find solutions to Palestians’ problems:
-A nine year old girl had to go to the Augusta-Victoria hospital (in
Jerusalem) to have her tonsils removed and her mother was
trying to get a travel permit. After three hours and many
telephone conversations, and after the mother and her daughter
were taken inside and sent out again three times, they were
eventually given the permit.
– Two youths , who were travelling in a taxi were arrested and
taken for interrogation because both ofthem had mobile phones
which the police suspected were stolen because there were
Hebrew letters next to telephone numbers in them. After we
travelled to the police-station twice, the two youths were
released. After three hours of interrogation, the police couldn’t
find any evidence that the phones had been stolen, but they
“forgot” to give the youths receipts forthe confiscated phones,
which would have enabled them to reclaim them. Only after our
intervention were the youths given the “forgotten” receipts.
We didn’t know whether to be happy at our “successes” or to be sorry
about the wasted hours of so many people.
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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Etzion DCO
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serves residents of Bethlehem and surrounding villages who need magnetic cards, work permits for Israel, permits for one-time entry for religious or health reasons, various police permits, etc.
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