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Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Sun 20.7.08, Afternoon

Place: Bethlehem (300) Etzion DCO
Tags: Cab drivers
Observers: Shlomit S., Yael S. (reporting)
Jul-20-2008
| Afternoon

Bethlehem, Rachel Crossing: We arrived on our regular Sunday.

15:00 PM Etzion DCL: There were more than 60 people waiting.

There is a computer problem at the DCL – again it may be the heat affecting them, and again crowds of people frustrated by it.

 

There was something of an improvement in the attitude of the soldier operating the turnstiles, and the Palestinians were clustering around the turnstiles as though it might help.

The driver of the taxi that is always there complains that for two hours now he has not had a full taxi. Livelihood compromised.

 

Shlomit tries every way to help all the Palestinians waiting since morning to get their magnetic cards. At 17:00 PM she again calls the Administration officer to get him to see some more people. There are 18 remaining: why shouldn’t they all get today?

Tadesa said that he is not prepared to receive more people, and at 17:30 PM the last one to receive a magnetic card from this shift comes out.

 

Apart from that, as usual there are blacklisted people who did not receive magnetic cards. The police post is closed because of bereavement, and the pressure is great because everyone needs to renew their cards, and in addition there are some who need every few months to renew fingerprints – and the capacity is 80 cards per day. Heavy pressure can be expected at the DCL in the coming months.

 

  • 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.
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