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Bethlehem, Tue 27.4.10, Morning

Place: Bethlehem (300)
Tags: Maltreatment
Observers: I., D., R. (reporting)
Apr-27-2010
| Morning

6:50 am, Bethlehem – Checkpoint 300: a very frustrating morning. We are greeted with harsh complaints. Long waiting time to pass and a situation of allowing the people to pass in waves. They are permitted to move for a time, then everything stops. And indeed it is clear at our end that there is a constant flow of people, then nothing and the soldiers wait for people to come to show their permits, etc. We make many phone calls, but the situation never did improve. Women also complained that the Humanitarian Line was not always open. Four checking stations are open.

 Two men from Jordan wanted to come in and had papers with a visa.  They were not permitted, so we asked for a policeman to look at their permits. The word was that he would be there shortly. The men waited and waited, but the policeman never arrived.

 

  • 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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