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Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Wed 31.10.07, Morning

Place: Bethlehem (300) Etzion DCO
Tags: DCO (District Coordination Offices)
Observers: Y.driver, D. O. R. (reporting)
Oct-31-2007
| Morning
Bethlehem, Husan, Al Nashash, Nebi Yunis, Beit Omar, DCL Etzion, 
Bethlehem CP 6:35 am
Five stations are open as we arrive.  Shortly thereafter a sixth is opened.  The lines are crowded and long.  An Ecumenical accompianer explains to us that the CP opened at 5:15 am.  However, only one metal detector was open which slowed the process.  Later when the second metal detector was opened, double the amount of people passed.  One soldier who is checking those entering appears to be ill.  He holds his head, works very slowly.  By 7:05 am, the lines are considerable shortened.  Two of the security men are civilians.
Hussan 7:10 am
We return a driver's license to a resident.
Al Nashash 7:25 am
No one approaches us for help
Nebi Yunis 7:55 am
We help four people with their traffic violations.
Beit Omar 8:45 am
We meet one man to return his driver's license.
DCL Etzion 9:15 am
A 44 year old man tells us that he has been working as a painter for a company in Jerusalem for 20 years.  He was stopped today as he tried to enter the CP at Bethlehem with an order by Shabak to appear at the DCL on November 8th.
He came here today because he does not want to lose all those working days.  He pressed the Call Button to ask to be seen today, but they did not respond to him.  I pressed the Call Button, asked if he could be seen today, and the answer was Yes.  When we left he was still waiting.  M, who takes care of Police issues, was not present today.  He said there was sign posted in the waiting room.  However, we saw no such sign.

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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   .

  • 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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