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Bethlehem, Thu 25.2.10, Morning

Place: Bethlehem (300)
Tags: Slow passage Soldiers at checkpoints
Observers: Rachel F., Nora B. (reporting)
Feb-25-2010
| Morning

6:05 AM, Bethlehem – Checkpoint 300: upon our arrival,  there were 4 booths open. Different people tell us that "things are OK today, as opposite as what happened the day before, which was terrible". Later, an old man arrived and told the DCL representative that he had to wait for two and a half hours. The DCL man told him, that because of his age, he could have gone through the humanitarian queue. Still,the question would be why all the others have to wait so long at the checkpoint.

The DCL man told us and stressed that it is very important for him that everything works properly, as it should be. It seems that he tries to have a "humane" dialogue with people. But, besides the question "what is properly or not properly", the fact is that even if things work OK, the general attitude towards Palestinians is humiliating – impolite in the best case, and generally, hostile. The situation over the Palestinian side of the terminal drives people very nervous, the soldiers' manners at the booths, are unpleasant and the general attitude is as towards inferior people.

 

  • 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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