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Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Nuaman, Wed 27.8.08, Morning

Observers: Ora A., Drora P. (reporting), Avital P. (driving)
Aug-27-2008
| Morning

 

Bethlehem – Rahel Passage: There were many Israeli vehicles outside the checkpoint. The meaning of this is that there must be a long line inside and that the laborers were being held up.

The reception we got wasn't hostile, not extremely anyway, but when we had a longer conversation we learned that the waiting time was of two hours. Once again passage was slow on the other side of the wall and we didn't have any way of reaching there. They didn't open another entrance, and if they did the passage was still slow.
 

Things must change but we don't have enough power to help.

 

Nuaman Passage: We headed up to the village houses and met a group of children in school uniforms heading to school. We drove on until they reached the place where they were inspected. They rang the bell. The door opened and through it I saw the room air-conditioned room through it the children passed. The children got out of the non/inspection room and crossed the road, they didn't have traffic lights of an adult to help them pass. Some headed to school at El Haras and the others to Beit Sahur.

Hooray! The military forces allow Palestinian children to get from an A' territory to an A' territory, and in the middle is Israel protecting itself.
 

 

Nabi Unis: We had a cup of coffee and tried to help a person who was refused passage by the police without knowing why.
 

 

Etzion DCL: It was the reception day of the residents of a village by Bethlehem. Few people came. Chairs were taken from the middle of the room, we didn't know why. The air condition made the waiting bearable. But the number of machines issuing the magnetic cards remand as it was since "the IDF doesn't have enough money to buy more machines".

  • 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.
  • Nu'man (Mazmuria)

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    •   situated on the Wall route as part of "Jerusalem Envelope," in its southeastern stretch, east of Zur Baher, Um Tuba and the small Nuaman Village, on  Beit Sahur road, the checkpoint will serve as the main crossing for commercial goods from the southern West Bank to Jerusalem.
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