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Bethlehem, Thu 12.6.08, Morning

Place: Bethlehem (300)
Observers: Rachel F., Nora B. (reporter)
Jun-12-2008
| Morning

 

5:30 – 7:00 AM, Bethlehem Checkpoint: There are 6 boots open when we arrived at 5:30 and as usual,  a lot of crowding, pressure, shouting, etc. As usual, there is no special line for women, old people, children.

 

We have the feeling, that the structure of the place causes to extra pressure. People crowds especially at the first boots, which are the slowest because of the digital impressions checking.

 

The private security staff, that for a change were quiet business-like, and soldiers from the Border Police were at the place. The woman soldier at boot 3, was specially naughty. As usual, as part of the education workshop, she stopped checking people for more than 20 minutes. As usual, people did not order themselves differently since they could not do so. And as usual, when she re-started working, things were exactly as when she stopped.

 

One man with entrance permit tried to cross with his daughter about 7 years old to visit his wife who was lying at a hospital. Since the girl had no entrance permit, he was denied entrance. No staff from the DCL present to take care of the issue.

 

When we left at 7:00 the place was still crowded.

 

  • 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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