Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Tue 26.1.10, Morning
A cold and freezing morning, with fog and a freezing wind on the roads.
06.45 AM, Bethlehem: there are very many Palestinians waiting outside the site of the checkpoint and many people are waiting for transport alongside the road. There are five inspection stations open inside, with a short queue at each of them. Everything flows, and the people coming out say that today its OK, but that yesterday it was better. Today itscold and that slows things down.
07.30 AM: most of the people have passed through and there is no longer a queue.
We leave.
08.00 AM, Etzion DCL: the DCL is still closed and only two people are waiting at the door. It opens at 08.10 and the waiting people go in.
We leave after a short shift. It was cold with no special incidents
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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