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Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Nabi Yunis, Tue 24.3.09, Afternoon

Observers: Illit R., Yael L.- J, (reporting), Avital F. (driver)
Mar-24-2009
| Afternoon

General situation: heavy rain since two days. Cold. It might have been that in construction one did not work.

 

14:30 PM, Etzion DCL:  on the parking lot stood 4 empty cars, among the a taxi and a transit. A man was waiting for 1 hour and 40 minutes. About 14.40 some men were leaving the building. The taxi and one private car left. Another car was arriving. The driver came because of  a permit. He could pass the turnstile right away. At 14.50 we left.

 

Nabi Yunis:  the road to Chalchul was  full of taxis and transits.

There was a 'tea stall'. Besides the owner two other men were staying in the tent. The owner was offering us tea and a conversation. He showed us a "final order to discontinue work and to put down the tent".  If not it would be demolished. This was issued in January 09. He received others since. He is hoping to get a working permit. Another man was a Jordenian citizen, complaining  of being very harshly limited in his movements. He, could neither go  to Tel Aviv nor pray at Al Aksa mosque .In contrast to his situation Israelis would be allowed to travel all over in  Jordan. The third man in the stall asked if we could help him to get a magnetic card. He was denied renewing his card without explanation . We gave him Silvia's number. He also mentioned that 3 houses along the road were demolished.

 

16.00 to16.15 PM, Bethlechem Checkpoint:  we were staying there only from 16.00 to16.15, because it was windy, drafty and cold at the checkpoint. 5 counters were open. Very few people were crossing the checkpoint. There were no lines and sometimes the hall was empty. This might be dependant on the bad weather.

 

  • 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   .
  • 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.
  • Nabi Yunis

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    • Nabi Yunis

      A meeting place at the junction of Route 60 and the road leading to the eastern entrance to Hebron.

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