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Bethlehem, Mon 27.6.11, Morning

Place: Bethlehem (300)
Tags: Health Problems Slow passage Soldiers at checkpoints
Observers: Hava and Avital (reporting), Ilil N. –B. (translating)
Jun-27-2011
| Morning

 

 

Bethlehem:
7:30 We arrive at the Bethlehem checkpoint to drive a mother and her baby to   the Hadassah hospital.  We agreed to meet there since it was the fastest way for them.  As soon we arrived and got out of our car, those waiting at the checkpoint said to us, “Where have you been?  It’s a horrible morning, we’ve been waiting for hours.”  When we went into the checkpoint area, we saw that only three of six lanes were open.  Everyone was complaining about a long wait, and loud yelling could be heard from the other side.  A quick phone call to Hanna Barag indicated that a new and ill-experienced unit was manning the checkpoint. 

After half an hour, the young mother arrived and we drove to Hadassah.

Each day brings its troubles.

  • 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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