Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Nabi Yunis, Wed 31.12.08, Morning
:Rahel Checkpoint: the rain got the line out side to vanish at once, as people were rushed in side. The ecumenical person told us that from what they heard the checkpoint was open at 5:10, and the soldiers where polite towards those passing, they hadn't yet come across courtesy. "It's as though the soldiers got specific orders regarding their behavior". At the entrance we saw a large board put up by the Ministry of Tourism, on it were greetings for the three holidays: El Adha, Hanukah and Christmas. New plants were decorating the passage. We ran into a very rude security man: "get out of my sight. I'm the commander here and I have the authority to make any decision that I wish". He wouldn't give us his name, just said that he had a Golani hat and that he had killed many of people before, and specifically mentioned that he had killed a fourteen year old Palestinian boy. We called the police, they passed or call from one officer to another and then finally said they were sending a policeman over there before whom we can place a complaint. After a short while a policeman called us and referred us to another policeman who is based at Rahel checkpoint, he said we should go to him with whatever problems we have. The officer's name is Dudu and his phone number is 5694017.We called him and the officer came to us. The security man had already disappeared but we said all that we had to and Dudu told us he would speak to the security man (we'll have to see about that). He also said not to call him, but to ask that one of the soldiers contact him for us. People passing complained that both the machines that read hand prints (at posts to the lest) weren't working. We couldn't check.
Etzion DCL: we didn't stop at Al Nashshash since we got caught us at Rahel checkpoint. We arrived at the DCL afet 8 AM. There weren't many people outside because of the cold and the rain. The number of chairs at the waiting hall keeps declining. There weren't many people either. The weather was terrible. It was foggy and the roads were slippery. There were about three accidents. Ambulances arrived, the police and military vehicles.
Nabi Yunis: it was cold and windy, the coffee house nearly got blown away.
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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Nabi Yunis
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Nabi YunisA meeting place at the junction of Route 60 and the road leading to the eastern entrance to Hebron.
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