Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Sun 2.3.08, Morning
7:00 Bethlehem: The crossing is full of people. We assume today will be worse than ever, but it doesn't look that way. The Palestinians, certain that today the West Bank would be under closure after the weekend events in Gaza, are surprised to see that the crossing is open as usual. This softens the blow of the fact that only two entrances were opened on the Bethlehem side and the crossing is very slow. On the Israeli side five windows were opened giving the illusion that things went smoothly, but at a critical time one of the windows was closed leaving the line orphaned. People started pushing and running to the other lines. Havoc was created.
When Sylvia walked over to the dividing line between the Palestinian/Israeli sides, a soldier in the guard booth started screaming to his colleague: Throw her out of there! The guard on the top gallery shouted at her to get away from the line, but after a few minutes of totally ignoring their threats, they got tired of the game and went back to their proper jobs.
A group of Italians watched the unfolding events from their vantage point on the Israeli side. They are members of a group called PAX CHRISTI, a Catholic group for peace. It took them an hour and quarter to cross over (if they had come earlier it would have taken even longer).
When we got to the DCL at Etsion it had become overcast and colder. In the waiting room it was only slighter warmer than outside. We asked if the heat could be turned on, but were told that it was not possible. We tried to help a young Palestinian who came to pick up his new permit without his employer, who could not come. Two settlers were waiting to go in at the turnstile behind the main hall. What a hutzpa, said one of them, we have to wait because they let in the Arabs ahead of us! At Beth El I go in all the way to headquarters. The IDF functions like the Histadrut. The other settler answers him: That's why I can't get anything done. Tell me, he says, turning to me, while I am trying to help a young Palestinian, don't they break into our cars here?
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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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