Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Wed 13.8.08, Afternoon
This was Maayan's first ever shift.
15:30 – 16:30, Etzion DCL: About 30 people waiting for magnetic cards. One young man, fluent in Hebrew and very angry, served as our informant throughout. He said that some people had been waiting there since 3:00 AM, which is the time they arrive in order to be first in line when the DCL opens later. During the entire time we were there, maybe 5 people were let in.
We talked to the soldier at the booth on the other side of the carousal, who answered laconically. "Is the DCL open?". "Yes". "Are you letting people in now?" "Yes". "When do you close?" "5:30". "Will all these people be served by closing time?". But our informant called at 17:10 to tell us that some minutes before the DCL shut down, not a single person had been let in after we left, and all were told to return the following day.
16:45-17:15, Bethlehem Checkpoint: Many booths open, no line at all, workers passed through quickly. Some stopped to complain that it was much worse the day before, and the day before that, and in the mornings. And to plead that we come there more. The civilian security guy wouldn't answer a question. "I don't talk to you", he said.
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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