Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Tue 11.10.11, Afternoon
Etzion DCL: we reached Etzion at 14.50 PM.. Five Palestinian cars stood on the parking space. The waiting hall was empty.
Within half an hour 3 more people were arriving. One had to wait some minutes on the stairs near the turnstile and the counter of the soldier. Another person was marching straight to the soldier, and the third – was turning first to us, telling us that he was waiting for the soldier to take care of him since 8 AM
The website address of the DCL is:www.cogat.idf.il
Bethlehem – Checkpoint 300: we got there about 16.00 PM.
More people were waiting to pass than last time we visited the CP, most likely all Palestinians on their way home. Not many tourists.
Only one soldier was seen at one counter who did not check the people. Then all of a sudden a bigger group of customers came together. Somebody, on the soldiers side, closed the entrance. As a result – people had to wait about 5 minutes without any line open. Then the gate was opened and the crowd could pass like before..
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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