Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Tue 25.5.10, Afternoon
General: Toilet facilities (lack of) at checkpoint.
3.15 pm, Etzion DCL: three young men were waiting for the window to open. Two had been summoned by Security and said they were being kept waiting 3 hours. We phoned and the window opened immediately. Soon afterwards all three came out, one man said he was satisfied. The two ‘invited' by security were told to come again next day.
4.30 pm, Bethlehem – Checkpoint 300: there were two long lines of workers waiting, being directed by a sole ‘private' guard. Only three checking points were functioning. We called to ask if more posts could be opened but, in fact, the lines disappeared rapidly and this did not prove necessary.
Our visitor needed a toilet and so we approached the guard to ask for use of one. He said there were no lavatories at the checkpoint. And what about at the other end (our visitor had a foreign passport and so could have gone through)? No, he said, there were no lavatories there, either! This didn't come altogether as a surprise (though we thought he might invite our foreigner to use staff facilities) but it is useful to be reminded of such features now and again.
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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