Bethlehem, Tue 26.4.11, Afternoon
Duration: 14:00 – 17:00 PM
Etzion DCL, 15:00 PM: we noticed 8 Palestinian cars on the parking lot but in the waiting hall was nobody. We could not find out where the drivers or the passengers were.
A young Muslim girl came, escorted by two middle aged men. She was going to apply for a magnetic card and a permit to visit her mother in a West Jerusalem hospital.
The soldier behind the counter appeared and immediately left. In the moment in which we intended to call his superior he appeared again – this time stayed and called the girl to enter the office.
A man, age about 45, applied for a permit to visit his sick brother in a hospital in West Jerusalem. His old "Tazrich" had run out on April 24th. Until now a permit was refused as the DCL officers decided that the recommendation of the doctor (the MD) was a fake.
We could not observe the letter. We called the MD who acknowledged his certificate.
We recommended to the person to try again at the DCL, but it did not help. They demanded a new certificate by the same doctor.
We were trying to reach Daliah for help, but the line was permanently occupied.
A young Palestinian worker came in and told us that he and his brother had worked as construction workers in Tel Aviv for a contractor (kablan) who promised them a (relatively) good salary. His brother had a work accident, and now he is trying to figure out who could help them how to get compensation money and their overdue salary. We recommended "Kav la Oved" (office that helps foreign workers) and gave the young Palestinian their telephone number.
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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