Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Tue 5.10.10, Morning
7 a.m, Bethlehem – Checkpoint 300: a stream of smiling people is crossing. "Yesterday was also a good day. May it always be like that."
And inside: the lines are very long and only four counters operating. While we were there one of the female soldiers got up and left, leaving 3 counters operating and the lines growing longer. The DCL Officer A. called her back and crossing speeded up again.
8:00 am, Etzion DCL: the hall is full. Most have come to renew their magnetic cards. There were many people here yesterday but asked to return today due to inability to deal with all of them. Some complained this was their third time here because there had not been time enough to deal with their requests. The malfunction is probably due to the days of closure over Succot. So why are they not prepared for this eventuality?
Two persons who had been turned away at the Rachel Crossing, and their permits confiscated, approached us. They said they had been working for the same employer for 10 years, and the expiry date on their permits is next month. The female soldier told them they could not cross and should go to the "Gush". Here at the DCO they are not dealt with, and they don't know what to do. I called the Humanitarian Centre and the soldier said he would check the cause. Since he was taking his time, I called the DCO Officer at the Rachel Crossing who told me that the correct procedure is to ask the employer who must apply to the Ministry of Employment. After a while A. called back and asked us to tell the couple to return to the Rachel Crossing and get in touch with him. The men went off. I was unable to find out the upshot.
Unfortunately, it is the custom: the soldiers are not bound to explain why permits are confiscated, or to direct the owners to the place where their problem can be resolved.
7 a.m, Bethlehem – Checkpoint 300: a stream of smiling people is crossing. "Yesterday was also a good day. May it always be like that."
And inside: the lines are very long and only four counters operating. While we were there one of the female soldiers got up and left, leaving 3 counters operating and the lines growing longer. The DCL Officer A. called her back and crossing speeded up again.
8:00 am, Etzion DCL: the hall is full. Most have come to renew their magnetic cards. There were many people here yesterday but asked to return today due to inability to deal with all of them. Some complained this was their third time here because there had not been time enough to deal with their requests. The malfunction is probably due to the days of closure over Succot. So why are they not prepared for this eventuality?
Two persons who had been turned away at the Rachel Crossing, and their permits confiscated, approached us. They said they had been working for the same employer for 10 years, and the expiry date on their permits is next month. The female soldier told them they could not cross and should go to the "Gush". Here at the DCO they are not dealt with, and they don't know what to do. I called the Humanitarian Centre and the soldier said he would check the cause. Since he was taking his time, I called the DCO Officer at the Rachel Crossing who told me that the correct procedure is to ask the employer who must apply to the Ministry of Employment. After a while A. called back and asked us to tell the couple to return to the Rachel Crossing and get in touch with him. The men went off. I was unable to find out the upshot.
Unfortunately, it is the custom: the soldiers are not bound to explain why permits are confiscated, or to direct the owners to the place where their problem can be resolved.
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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