Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Tue 8.1.08, Morning
06:40, Bethlehem CP. Five checking posts open. Very few people either side, partly because it was raining, and construction workers stayed at home. All told us that the previous day had been real hell, many came out of the CP as late as 09:00, their employers hadn’t waited to pick them up and they had lost a working day. So all in all, people lost almost a whole week of wages, because as of Wednesday – G.W. Bush visit – there is a total closure of the occupied territories for “security reasons” at least until next week.
The way to Ezyon DCL was terribly foggy, with almost zero visibility. We drove slowly and with extreme care to the DCL and found it completely empty. At least the settlements along the way were swallowed by the fog as if they never existed. Nice.
Bethlehem (300)
See all reports for this place-
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 .
-
Etzion DCO
See all reports for this place-
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.
-