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Etzion DCL, Checkpoint 300 – Bethlehem, Al Wallagee, Tunnel CP

Place: Bethlehem (300) Etzion DCO
Observers: Yael L.-J. (reporting). Avital F. ( translating at the CP)
Nov-09-2010
| Afternoon

 

Duration of shift: 14:30 PM till 17:00 PM

Etzion DCL, 15:20 PM:  when  we arrived we found an empty parking space. A cleaner  was flooding the floor in the waiting hall. No business, because there was no electricity (?)

Perhaps Machsom Watch had been informed? If so, please – in the future – transfer the information to concerned  watchers who came all the way from Jerusalem in vain.

 Al Wallajee, Har Homa:  we were alone.

Tunnel checkpoint, 15:00 PM:  the traffic to Jerusalem ran fluently. Only an  arab bus (we could not see the registration plate) got stopped. All the passengers on the bus, only women, had to get off the bus. 

Checkpoint Bethlehem, 16:00 PM:  men – business people and workers alike – were running to the entrance. Only in counter 3 sat one woman soldier who was showing the Palestinians with movements of her hands that they could open the door between counter 2 and 3 by themselves. They did take advantage of the new openings and were passing fast through the checkpoint, as far as we could see. Every now and then there was a gathering of people before the turnstile, but in general the system was working well. For a while the beautiful young soldier was alone among all Palestinians, some tourists and us. No other soldier, policeman or civil guard was visible. Then at 16:35 PM two policemen and one civil guard appeared and walked among the crowd, on the (sort of) balcony they have over there.                        

 

  • Bethlehem (300)

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    • 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   .

  • Etzion DCO

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    •   serves residents of Bethlehem and surrounding villages who need magnetic cards, work permits for Israel, permits for one-time entry for religious or health reasons, various police permits, etc.
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