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Etzion DCL: Opened at 8:00. About 20 men waiting all for magnetic cards. No police requests today. Police days: Sunday, Mondays and Wednesday.
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Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Thu 15.11.07, Morning
Place:
Bethlehem (300)
Etzion DCO
Observers: Rachel F., Idit N., Nora B. (reporting)
5:30 – 8:15
Bethlehem CP: Upon our arrival there were 4 windows open and long queues. The Ecumenic Watcher told us that they only opened the other side at 5:25, and about 2 thousand people were waiting there and that there was great tension. It took her an hour and a half to get to the Israeli side. She said they wait outside and that at the beginning of the week it was really cold. Things look ok from the Israeli side and very bad from the Palestinian one.
Since the queues were very long, we requested several times, that other windows were opened, and were told that there were not spare soldiers. At 6:25, finally a fifth window was manned and things run better.
At 6:55 we saw that the soldier at the first window has disappeared without giving notice to the people waiting, who kept waiting and getting mad as time went by. After many requests from us and from the waiting people, the soldier reappeared after 15 minutes, at least.
(And, the private security man, smokes at the crowded place where smoking is prohibited). Minor detail…
Etzion DCL: Opened at 8:00. About 20 men waiting all for magnetic cards. No police requests today. Police days: Sunday, Mondays and Wednesday.
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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