Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Tue 9.11.10, Morning
Bethlehem – Checkpoint 300, 6:45 : most of the employers and their vehicles are already gone. Four windows are open and the traffic past them is sparse; our usual acquaintances report to us that ”Today is wonderful, and there are already almost no people at the beginning of the queue”.
Someone shows his work permit, is detained and the permit is confiscated. An officer from the district coordination office intervenes and tells the man to go to the office for an explanation. We are not given details and our guess is that perhaps the permit belongs to someone who is part of a chain of “fixers” (people who know how to “arrange” things in return for money – translator), who operate on both sides of the border – a form of co-existence which is the fruit of the occupation – and the man fell into their trap.
Etzion DCL 8:00 : the doors are open and about 20 people are waiting. No-one asks for our help, and they have all come to renew their magnetic cards. If they are lucky, they won’t have to devote an additional day to the matter.
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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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