Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Mon 18.2.08, Morning
07:20 CP 300
Israeli vehicles are waiting for the workers who trickle out slowly. Some of them have been waiting for two hours, some have been waiting for an hour. We entered the terminal. Six or seven checking booths are open, all with lines stretching as far as the eye could see. The people in one of the lines try to push forward. The private security guard shouts at the that no one will get through as long as they don’t get into to orderly lines. The people can’t move backwards. They try taking a few steps but can’t. The guard continues to shout and tries to educate the packed people. When we commented that he should stop trying to educate the people he told us we should leave since we were disturbing him. When we refused he called a policeman to help him. The policeman spoke to us in length and tried to convince us to leave for everyone’s sake. He told us that last week when things got chaotic a man was injured (we know this from Hanna’s report) but we did not give up.
We continued on to the tunnel passage.
08:15 Beit Omar
A few people ask for help with police matters.
El-Arub
There is a military jeep beneath a watch tower.
09:00-10:00 Nebi-Yunes
Many approach us with police matters.
10:10 Beit Anun
There is a single traffic light positioned on route 60, near the entrance to Beit Anun. The light is facing south and is not working. And so a single lonely traffic light stands on route 60, facing south with closed eyes. What help can it offer to the residents of Beit-Anun who must cross the busy road.
10:30 Etzion DCO
There are five people waiting for the GSS. They were summoned for the morning and they are waiting. We sent two people to the policeman this morning after finding out that he was issuing permits. The people have been waiting there for an hour and a half, and according to them the policeman has told them that the computer is not working. After an hour the people told us over the phone that they were still waiting for the permits. The policeman told over the phone that he was busy with this and that…but these are his reception hours and there are only two people. After we pleaded with him he agreed to see them!!! Interesting.
11:00 we left Etzion DCO.
In the concourse by route 60 there are eight people gathered
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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