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Bethlehem, Fri 11.11.11, Morning

Place: Bethlehem (300)
Tags: DCO (District Coordination Offices) Family Connections Women
Observers: Efrat B. , Clare O. (both reporting). Ilil N.-B. (translating)
Nov-11-2011
| Morning

 


Friday 11.11.11
9:00-11:00
Bethlehem – Checkpoint 300:  relatively few Palestinians crossed today. No lines formed.
At the beginning, two lanes were open, and later on – 3.  Two guards were walking around, one of them very blunt and vocal, and he was clearly bothered by our presence there.  One older and ill woman arrived, with a permit, who wished to pray but could not go alone.  Her 40  year-old daughter asked to tag along but had no permit.  A female officer responded that a humanitarian exception might be made by appealing to the DCL, but the request was denied.  
An older  tiny woman arrived and immediately started to go through the carousel as if ignoring the checkpoint.  A soldier and guard both tried to detain her but she ignored them.  The guard called the commander:
“There’s an older woman here trying to go through the carousel.  You want to come over?”
– “How old?”
– “Do I know… about 200!”
– “OK, let her through.”
What fun this was to witness!  We really felt like singing on top of the Chord Bridge in Jerusalem!

  • 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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