Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Tue 14.9.10, Afternoon
15.00 PM, Etzion DCL: nine Palestinian cars are on the parking lot, one of them – a UN car. A man and two women were getting off and disappearing in the area of the base. The waiting hall was first vacant. Later 14 people more were coming. All of them were let in immediately.
16.15 PM, Bethlehem – Checkpoint 300: the street was packed with busses and private cars. Israeli passengers were at Rachel's Tomb for Penitential prayers (saying Slichot).
In the waiting hall a lot of (mostly) men were intending to get home by crossing the checkpoint. Two counters were open. A civil guard and a soldier were trying to open more counters, but failed. So from time to time they were opening a gate for the tourists from Bethlehem in order not to block the whole flow. The papers of the tourists were not checked.
We left at 16.45 PM .
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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