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Bethlehem, Tue 24.8.10, Morning

Place: Bethlehem (300)
Tags: Slow passage
Observers: I, D, R (reporting)
Aug-24-2010
| Morning

6:40 am, Bethlehem – Checkpoint 300: cars and buses clog the street, people outside tell us it is not a good morning. And, indeed, it appears to be one of the worst mornings to enter Jerusalem from Bethelehem.  Only three checking stations are open. A new guard tells us that we cannot stand further than a meter from the wall in the hall. We told him our experience there, but tried not to be in the way of people exiting. He was  quick to  complain about us to a policeman who came through. The policeman ignored him, and so he did get the message. Phonecalls were made to find soldiers to open other checking staions, and to all those who could help the situation. The main problem seemed to be at the Bethlehem entrance where people waited over an hour to begin the passage. At 7:50 another checking station was finally opened. At 8:15 am 2,156 people had passed through. A very frustrating morning.

  • 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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