Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Wed 3.10.07, Morning
Rachel Crossing, Al-Nashash, Nebi-Yunis, Etzyon DCL
06:30 am Rachel Crossing
The curfew is complete as a result of a Jewish holiday. Most of the people passing are church or hospital employees or people with health problems. Only one checking booth is open and everything seems to be running smoothly. We met one woman and this is her story:
She is having very difficult financial problems and has turned to the official welfare organizations in Bethlehem in order to receive financial aid. The clerk in the office, on realizing that the woman was Christian, insulted her and turned her away, telling her that they did not help “pig eaters.” The woman turned to the manger, but was turned away by her too. She then turned to a Christian minister who told her that she was indeed on the list of welfare recipients and he did not know why she was rejected.
07:30 am Al-Nashash
Very little car traffic. We are unemployed.
07:50 am Nebi-Yunis
We were waiting for a Palestinian who called Yoske the evening before and asked for help. He did not show up, and did not leave a phone number to contact him.
09:10 am Etzyon DCL
Everything is locked. Behind the building we saw a number of elderly people who wanted to get an entry permit in order to visit El-Aktza the coming Friday. When we called the DCL we were told that an officer would soon come out to take care of their request.
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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