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Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Tue 10.3.09, Afternoon

Place: Bethlehem (300) Etzion DCO
Observers: Yael L.-V., Illit R. (reporting together)
Mar-10-2009
| Afternoon

General situation:

Purim!  The usual situation: in Iisraeli radio they said, there will be a complete closure of all borders and checkpoints, but when we are approaching Israeli stations of control – those we were in charge of – were not closed, but less traffic

 

14:40 PM,  Etzion DCL:  the door to the waiting room stood widely open. On the parking lot were 4 cars with Palestinian plates parked. In one of them sat two Christian women. They told us that they were waiting for two hours for the husband of one of them.

When the husband came out we learnt that he had applied for a permit for an appointment at Hadassa the same day.

He did not get it. We tried to help with a phone call to Yael Sh. but no results.

The drivers of the other cars we did not see.
 

15:30 PM,  Bethlehem Checkpoint:  very few people were passing two counters. Between 16:00 and 17:00 PM more people came, the majority "white collar", well dressed and some tourists.

 

  • 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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