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Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Nuaman (Masmuria), Tue 3.5.11, Afternoon

Observers: Yael L.-J. (reporting), Avital F. (driving)
May-03-2011
| Afternoon

 

Duration: 14:00 – 7:30 PM

Etzion DCL, 15.20 PM:  on the parking lot are 9 Palestinian cars, but in the waiting hall we did not see people. One soldier stood at the counter. Then a few people were running to the turnstiles. All persons were let in.

One of them returned from the office and came to us with his papers, asking for help. He was young, living in Bethlehem. He wanted a "tassrich"  in order to visit his wife in an East Jerusalem hospital in Beit Tsafafa. Slowly his whole story came out. He is married to a woman who lives in East Jerusalem with two kids. A long time has passed since his last visit in Jerusalem. He had no magnetic card, no permit, only a doctor's letter mentioning that he should come to be present and help at his wife's discharge. The Shabbak did not give him a permit. He assumed that the fact that his wife is hospitalized –  may get him a permit without a magnetic card or any other explanation paper.

We recommended to ask Sylvia for help and gave him her telephone number. 

We left at 15:50 PM.

Checkpoint Nuaman 16:20 PM:   no cars. No activity.

Bethlehem – Checkpoint 300, 16:30 PM:  mainly workers arrived at the checkpoint (to return to their homes) with big and small busses and were rushing into the CP, crossing the empty counters. In one of them a soldier was sitting, talking on the phone.

The other counters on the Israeli side were idle.

We were unable to cross the checkpoint to observe what was going on at the other end.

 

  • 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

    See all reports for this place
    •   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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