Bethlehem, Fri 1.2.08, Morning
9:00- A couple of hundred meters from the checkpoint at Bethlehem there was a blockage. A police vehicle and a military jeep were parked there, by them were two soldiers.
-We are from Machsom Watch. Can we pass through to reach Bethlehem CP?
-Ask the blue uniforms. They are the ones to put the blockage.
The police men were in the midst of a conversation. They were talking about what was going on at the tunnel road. When we asked why we couldn't pass, they said: "There is a security alert".
We turned to the right, towards Gush Ezyon. There were already about twenty cars there waiting. After a couple of minutes the policemen asked that they "head back, this will take a lot of time".
Who know how much time is "a lot of time?". As we had no choice we gave up on Bethlehem checkpoint and also the drive to Nabi Unis, where E was to meet a Palestinian and give him his driver license back after having paid his debts. We had talked with him and arranged where we would meet him. E hurried to call him and explain that we won't be able to make it.
We decided to go to Shech Sa'ed/
E called her friend and found that headed to Bethlehem early that morning, and he was to returned to Jerusalem. She told him there was a blockage, and asked that he tell her whether he managed to pass.
…
E's friend called and told her that the blockage was removed.
Bethlehem (300)
See all reports for this place-
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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