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Bethlehem, Fri 7.3.08, Morning

Place: Bethlehem (300)
Tags: Closure
Observers: Efrat B, Lea A
Mar-07-2008
| Morning


 

The morning after the attack at the Yeshiva Mercaz HaRav 
 

Bethlehem CP

8:44 A guard from the Ari Shptrel company was at the parking lot. He asked where we were going and told us that the terminal was closed. The checkpoint was in fact completely empty, as one could expect. The soldier in the both told us that only people who work at the church or hospital may pass- a total closure. The only ones passing to Bethlehem were three Palestinian women, two men and a small group of tourists.   

9:20 We left.

  • 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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