Bethlehem, Fri 20.6.08, Morning
09.10 – 10.30 AM, Bethlehem Checkpoint: It was completely quiet when we arrived, not even one shout was heard. Later, there were a lot of people. Two checking booths were already open, and a third was also opened. No-one was denied passage through the checkpoint. Even children, who at first it seemed would not be allowed through, were nevertheless permitted after a short telephone clarification.
Some of the Palestinians angrily told us that they had waited for a long time (they said 1 ½ hours) on the other side. There is no doubt that the wait is nerve-racking and the humiliation of them having to take-off their belts is awful. For us, in comparison with previous weeks, the situation was less terrible because the soldiers who were manning the positions didn’t raise their voices and didn’t harass people. What a consolation!
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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