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Bethlehem, Hussan, Halhul – Tuesday morning, 8.11.2011
Observers: Rachel M., Drora Parag (reporting)
Bethlehem – Checkpoint 300, (Rachel’s Checkpoint): this time there was no presence at the checkpoints because the entrance to the Rachel Checkpoint was closed by police and military. The reason: today is our Matriarch Rachel's birthday. On our arrival at Tantur, the intersection at the entrance to Giloh, we saw a large crowd of black-clad people on the sidewalk, waiting for the buses to drive them to Rachel's Tomb.
Hussan: we decided to continue in the direction of Hussan, to the checkpoint behind the isolated house. But alas, we were prevented by a flat tire. Fortunately this occured close to the yellow vehicles awaiting passengers to Hussan. The drivers volunteered to change our tire. We thanked them cordially and paid for the work, and then continued on our way hoping to find a place to fix the tire. But this did not work out because it was a holiday, Id al-adha (the feast of the sacrifice), and everything was closed.
Halhul: so we continued to Halhul to visit the family that has befriended us and whom we are in the habit of visiting during holidays.
Bottom line: this time – no visit to the checkpoints.
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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Halhul-Hebron Bridge
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Generally allows free flowing traffic, except for sudden checks by soldiers stationed permanently in the pillbox, on Route 35 in the southern West Bank.
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