Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Sun 6.12.09, Morning

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Bethlehem (300)

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Observers:

Sylvia P., Ofra B., Chana A. (reporting)

Dec-6-2009

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Morning

7:00 AM, Bethlehem - Checkpoint 300: the exit hall is almost empty, but many workers are still caught in themiddle of the terminal and the hall fills up soon after with highly agitatedworkers who are already late for work. The EAPPI person, Andreas, reports that1600 people have passed by 7:00. He reports that the terminal opened earlierthan usual (4:45)The booths occupied vary from 3-4 as one of the computers keepsfailing and gets started again. By 7:30, EAPPI report that 2100 have crossed, for many the wait has beenone hour and a half or longer. Impossible situation. One person whose permithad just been renewed, was listed a security blacklisted case. Problem may be at theemployer's and we told him to get in touch with him. By 8:00 we leave when theplace is almost empty.

8:40 AM, Etzion DCL: many cars, many people inside, a great manyof them Christians applying for magnetic cards to obtain an entry permit forChristmas. So far 79 people are on the waiting list, some 25 are inside at thewindows.

We meet Issa from Deheisha camp. Nineteen years ago (!) hesaved two little Israeli boys, ten years old at the time, who wandered into thecamp by mistake during the first intifada and took them home (wherever thatwas). He carries around a write up with a picture in Hebrew about the eventwith the full name of one of the boys and passport size pictures inset at thetop. Issa was offered a reward by the IDF but refused. Now he has been securityblacklisted since February this year and is miserable. Issa contacted Sylviaduring the week and she tracked down one of the "boys" - now a youngman 29 years old - and asked him to contribute something, a telephone call, aletter, some pressure with the authorities, to help get Issa back on track, butso far to no avail. At the DCL another man pulled out a write-up about the sameevent in a Palestinian newspaper from that time where the last name of thesecond boy appears as well as the place of work of the father (Jerusalem municipality) and the search forhim will begin. Who knows? Maybe something will come of it.

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Location Description

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 info-icon

' 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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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.