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Bethlehem, Fri 16.11.07, Morning

Place: Bethlehem (300)
Observers: Efrat B., Leah A.
Nov-16-2007
| Morning


 

08.44    Bethlehem Checkpoint :   2 inspection stations open.   Surprisingly  there is a queue of 30 people waiting to enter

 Bethlehem, among them 10 students on their way to an examination at Bethlehem University.   They have already been waiting for more than10 minutes.   There is no “logical” reason for the delay, since there are only a few people traveling in the Jerusalem direction.   We phoned the Humanitarian Office, and in the meantime, within a few minutes everyone passed through.  

 Many tens of people are passing in the Jerusalem direction.

Relatively speaking, many people are passing through the checkpoint today.  A security guard from the “Arie” company is circulating between the  inspection stations.   A group of workers who left at 04.00, return without   having been able to work.They returned empty-handed because their foreman failed to arrive without bothering to inform them. 

    1. Wallaje CP:   2 security guards and 2 border-policemen are present.   The passage back to Jerusalem via Malcha is like returning to the “Bubble” : depressing as usual.

 

    Two worlds, so close and yet so far apart. 
     

  • 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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