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Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Sun 7.12.08, Morning

Place: Bethlehem (300) Etzion DCO
Tags: Crowding Slow passage
Observers: Sylvia P., Brigitte A.(photographer), Chana A. (reporting)
Dec-07-2008
| Morning

6:45  AM, Bethlehem Checkpoint 300:
 some workers are already outside. The main hall is quite empty, four windows open. There are fewer people than usual because of the holiday starting tomorrow (Eid el Adha). We stick around until 7:30, but there is no change. Most people have already started taking off for the Eid.

 

7:55   AM.Etzion DCL: 
there is a large crowd waiting to renew their magnetic cards, get permits, etc. The officers come, open the door to the waiting room, inspect it for suspicious objects and come out to deliver numbers. First the women get numbers, then the old people.
The people with special permit requests get in without numbers.
All the others stand there stretching out their hands with their card requests as if begging for favors. A depressing sight.
 

The numbers delivered are insufficient for the crowd waiting. We tell people to wait around until 11:00 o'clock because usually more numbers are given then. But today the going is very slow.
 
We leave by 10:00 and only very few people have passed through the windows inside.
Because of the slow going no new numbers are given out at 11:00.

 

  • 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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