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Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Sun 27.12.09, Afternoon

Place: Bethlehem (300) Etzion DCO
Observers: Daniella G. (reporting), Maya B. (translating)
Dec-27-2009
| Afternoon

 

Etzion DCL, 15:00 PM:   the parking lot is full, and the waiting room

accordingly.  A young man, presently living in the US for the past 6

years, complains that for the past 3 years, he cannot obtain a permit to

visit Jerusalem (GSS denied).  He travels between the US and his home here

via Amman and Allenby Bridge.

There is a thick line crowded at the immobile turnstile.  The soldier is

invisible, and doesn't answer our cries.  Finally it turns out that he is

angry that the Palestinians have disreagrded his repeated instructions for

them to sit down, and approach the turnstiles one by one.  "They ignore

me, so I ignore them". We manage to disperse the line, and then the

turnstiles start moving, and the crowd quickly disappears into the DCL. 

One older gent showed us documents that he cannot EXIT to Jordan (yes,

EXIT) through Allenby  Bridge, because of a GSS restriction.  Do you see

the logic in denying someone EXIT to an Arab county, not ENTRY into

Israel?

Bethlehem –Checkpoint 300, 16:00 PM:   even though passage is in spurts, with a line

building up outside between spurts, it is still rapid enough– we timed

it at under a minute.

 

  • 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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