Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Wed 26.5.10, Afternoon
14:00 pm, Etzion DCL: similarly to our experiences a week and two weeks ago, at the DCL waiting hall there were several young people summoned to a meeting with the Shabak. They had arrived on time for their appointments, their documents were taken, but no one had seen them since. It was a matter of long hours that they were waiting. We phoned and requested to remind the Shabak that these men were waiting for long. Surprise: a voice was heard over the loudspeaker. Someone called out to the waiting group to approach the rear gate. They ran over and were out of our sight since.
We had already filed a complaint several years back regarding the Shabak's custom to compel people to wait at these remote DCLs for hours at a time. They can't leave the area since their documents were taken, there is no option of purchasing food in the area and, in short, there is no excuse for this sort of punishment.
16:00 pm, Bethlehem – Checkpoint 300: merely two checking posts were functioning although this was the time when the workmen arrive in multitudes. The response to our inquiry was: there were no soldiers available. Nevertheless, a girl soldier was located and she approached another post, but alas, the computer wouldn't cooperate. Once the pressure grew, a police officer came by and opened yet another post and rapidly let the people through.
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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