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Bethlehem, Fri 21.10.11, Morning

Place: Bethlehem (300)
Tags: Soldiers at checkpoints
Observers: Clare Oren. (reporting). Ilil N.-B. (translating)
Oct-21-2011
| Morning

 

Bethlehem – Checkpoint 300:
8:50-10:20

At the beginning, there was a long line of Palestinians, and only one open lane.  After approaching the officer who’d come out into the corridor and humanitarian area, another lane was opened, and then another.

Three people were prevented passage for the usual reasons: one arrived with a little girl but without a birth certificate (kushan) for her ; another hoped to pass with his son but had a work permit; a third had no permit.  
Everyone was required to put their “magnet” through first.  One soldier often raised her voice.  From 10:00 onward almost nobody came.

  • 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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