Bethlehem, Fri 7.5.10, Morning
9:05-10:35 am, Bethlehem – Checkpoint 300: the entire space (without barriers) is open,three positions are open.
No lines, people crossing uneventfully. Now and then voices are heard from the other side, then silence again.
In recent times the team manning the checkpoint keeps changing, and every week we see a different set of soldiers and commanders. The commander's influence is of course significant. The conduct of this week's commander was totally inappropriate.
For starters: he addressed us arrogantly, said we were forbidden to be there.
"We're here every week" we explained quietly.
"You're not allowed to sit here [we were sitting on an abandoned flower-pot]; go stand next to the entrance door." "We'll stand" we said, "but we'll stand here."
The argument continued for a while, and after we asked for his identifying details he turned around and left.
Later when we sat down again, a voice from the loudspeaker ordered us to stand.
The upshot: he performed a humiliating imitationof a Palestinian with a speech defect who uttered slurred sounds and gesticulated in anger and despair when he was forbidden to cross to Bethlehem with a load of bags full of empty packaging materials.
Finally a border policeman came up to get rid of him. To our question why the man was not allowed to go to Bethlehem the policeman replied that the man had several files regarding attacks on policemen. But the Palestinian persisted, mimicking his obstinate demand to cross. Finally his permit was checked and his crossing allowed. The entire performance was contemptuous and infuriating.
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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