Bethlehem, Sun 27.12.09, Morning
"One and a half years we did not have such a good day as today!" argued some of the laborers.
So how "good" was this day?
4:45 AM, Bethlehem: the cage was already packed full and the queue stretched 30m outside the cage.
Some laborers lie on the floor on a carton and try to doze a little bit.
Young men jump over the fence into the cage.
We feel like peeping toms, looking into the cages and seeing humiliated people.
A young woman with a sick and drowsy child waits for herturn.
At the "humanitarian" lane 30% of the waiting people are being returned.
The laborers from the South Hebron Hills had to leave their homes already at 2:30.
The peddlers sell coffee and try to earn some pennies.
When the checkpoint opens at 5:00 the whole mass of people pushes forward in order to get to the security check.
6:30 AM at the Israeli side: after the security check the Palestinians are more relaxed and ready to talk and tell.
The crossing was "fast", only 40 minutes.
They speak about the difficulties in receiving an entry permit into Israel.
Sometimes you "buy" permits with money.
On Wednesday 40 working permits were confiscated from laborers waiting for their employers.
Many of them do not have permanent employers and have to wait daily for odd jobs.
The working day has not yet begun, but the laborers are already 3 – 4 hours on their way.
But all of them confirm: "One and a half years we did not have such a good day as today!"
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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