Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Tue 4.3.08, Morning
06:40, Bethlehem CP. Only four checking posts were functioning, and the lines were terribly crowded. People stood crushed against each other. We were told that it was not better at the other side. The commander, a very young second lieutenant, was quite helpless. According to him, all the other posts were out of working order for some reason. He was out there all the time, and has spent some five minutes talking quietly to a particularly angry man. He replaced a soldier who had to leave his post until the soldier returned. But he was unable to do anything about the inhumanity of this whole situation.
At 07:45 the pressure was alleviated, but this was no more than an illusion — the entrance at the Palestinian side was blocked, and every time just few people were allowed in. Crowding on the other side, people told us angrily, was as bad as before.
08:30, Ezyon DCL. No one was waiting – apparently, all had been summoned inside.
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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