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Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Sun 1.2.09, Afternoon
Place:
Bethlehem (300)
Etzion DCO
Observers: Daniela G., Annette H., Tami B. (reporting)
15:210 – 16:45 PM, Etzion DCL: when we arrived there were 13 men waiting, everyone for a magnetic card.
They told us that more than 20 people were inside the office and during the
time we spent there we saw around 8 of them coming out but few were let in
instead.
After 45min the first person was let in (apart from one man before, who had
come for a special permit). At 16:00 we asked the soldier behind the window if the people still waiting would be let in today. His reply was:
"Definitely. Don't worry". At 16:20 we turned to the soldier again, and
asked why only one person had been let in during one hour, and immediately
two more people were asked to enter. But that was it. One more guy was
called in, which had to do with the Shaback, but at 16:40 the soldier said
that they were finished and people should go home. We tried to argue and
remind him of his promise, but to no avail.
Since this day was the special day for people from Beit Djalla, we asked the
soldier to at least be personally responsible for those who had not been
taken care of, that it would be possible for them to come back the following
day. The soldier agreed and we gave one of the guys, who had been waiting
for nothing, Daniela's number in case they would have problems being
accepted the next day. The Palestinian guy didn't call the following day so
we assume that the people who had just a little bit of faith still left and
bothered to come again the next day were taken care of even though they were
not from the right area.
17:00 PM, Bethlehem checkpoint: the checkpoint was practically empty
when we arrived. We waited until two people passed within a few seconds,
and as there was no problem, we left.
They told us that more than 20 people were inside the office and during the
time we spent there we saw around 8 of them coming out but few were let in
instead.
After 45min the first person was let in (apart from one man before, who had
come for a special permit). At 16:00 we asked the soldier behind the window if the people still waiting would be let in today. His reply was:
"Definitely. Don't worry". At 16:20 we turned to the soldier again, and
asked why only one person had been let in during one hour, and immediately
two more people were asked to enter. But that was it. One more guy was
called in, which had to do with the Shaback, but at 16:40 the soldier said
that they were finished and people should go home. We tried to argue and
remind him of his promise, but to no avail.
Since this day was the special day for people from Beit Djalla, we asked the
soldier to at least be personally responsible for those who had not been
taken care of, that it would be possible for them to come back the following
day. The soldier agreed and we gave one of the guys, who had been waiting
for nothing, Daniela's number in case they would have problems being
accepted the next day. The Palestinian guy didn't call the following day so
we assume that the people who had just a little bit of faith still left and
bothered to come again the next day were taken care of even though they were
not from the right area.
17:00 PM, Bethlehem checkpoint: the checkpoint was practically empty
when we arrived. We waited until two people passed within a few seconds,
and as there was no problem, we left.
Bethlehem (300)
See all reports for this place-
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
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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