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Bethlehem, Tue 23.12.08, Morning

Place: Bethlehem (300)
Tags: Crowding
Observers: Ruth E., Rama Y. (reporting), with a guest.
Dec-23-2008
| Morning

   06:30 AM, Bethlehem CP:  after a long interval our shift is back.  

Five checking booths were open on our arrival, but soon one closed up, and the lines became crowded. A volunteer of the ecumenical organization told us that at the other side one of the two turnstiles had been closed for quite a long time, and the female soldier doing the checking over there was screaming at the Palestinians to stand in line. It took the volunteer almost two hours to get through.

 

In the meantime the lines became denser and quarrels erupted in the crowding. At 07:10 a fifth booth opened, and within minutes the pressure was alleviated. By 07:45 the CP was almost empty.

 

14 people were not allowed through because the PC did not identify their palm prints. 

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  • 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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