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Bethlehem, Thu 10.7.08, Morning

Place: Bethlehem (300)
Tags: Crowding
Observers: Rachel F., Nora B. (reporting), Rama Y.(Journalist)
Jul-10-2008
| Morning

 5:30 AM, Rachel Crossing, Palestinian Side: Hundreds of people are waiting in the street, which leads to the checkpoint. The checkpoint is not open yet. After a few minutes, it did open, but the line advance very, very slowly, and not continuously. People jump over the fence, putting in danger their  body, and their papers, if caught jumping by the soldiers. 

When we leave at about 6:10, the line has advanced very little. As someone told us, the most difficult part of an 8 hours working day at building, with this heat, are the hours spent at the checkpoint.

 

 6:35 AM, Rachel Crossing, The Israeli Side: There are 4 boots open . No waiting lines at all, as though we were at the Ben Gurion airport on a Friday night.

 

What we do not see from here, we do see from there!

  • 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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