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Bethlehem, Fri 8.4.11, Morning

Place: Bethlehem (300)
Tags: Soldiers at checkpoints
Observers: Claire O. (reporting).
Apr-08-2011
| Morning

am   09.30 – 11.00

Bethlehem– Checkpoint 300: 

Very few Palestinians are crossing today, and there is no noise from the Palestinian side of the checkpoint.  Two inspection stations are manned.

   The principal characteristic today is that everyone who arrives is required to place his hand on the well-known machine again and again until approval is received.

The main activity on this shift is our observation of the exercise that officers practice on the soldier in one of the inspection stations.  Two soldiers dress-up as Palestinians who want to cross.  One of them tries to sneak past the inspection station, and the second one begs the soldier to do him a favor.  The soldier indeed catches the first “Palestinian”, and regarding the second one doesn’t let him through but asks to check his papers again and starts to telephone . . . .

There is a lot of laughter; all the checkpoint staff is very amused and pleased with itself.

  • 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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