Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Sun 4.5.08, Morning

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Place:

Bethlehem (300)

Observers:

Cיana A, Sylviya P, Ofra B, Renana S (reporting)

May-4-2008

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Morning

7:00 AM, Bethlehem checkpoint: The CP was over crowded with people. Two metal detectors on the Palestinian side enabled Palestinians to pass to the Israeli side, where five posts were activated. There were no exceptional events that morning.
7:15 AM: More people passed rather quickly, but the checkpoint was still full of laborers that were supposed to arrive at work much earlier.

A father to a sixteen year old girl came to us and asked that we help him pass his daughter who didn't have an ID, but before any of us said something the girl passed the inspection post and left the checkpoint jumping from joy. Something about that unrestrained happiness seemed so not in tune with the checkpoint (even though she was already outside) that her parents tried hushing her down, while those observing from the side (us) said to themselves: Would she just get out before anyone notices her provocative happiness and sends her back to the cell. We met a new group of volunteers from the ecumenical church, they had just arrived and were saying their good byes to the old group and heading to the Etzion DCL.

8:00 - 10:00 AM Etzion DCL: After it had been quiet for a long time, the DCL filled up with people. It has been two years since the issuing of magnetic cards has moved to the Bethlehem district. These cards are valid for four years and may be renewed after two years. Now everyone is starting to renew their cards. Slowly the line grew longer but they still kept the order. From eight o'clock and until ten, when we left, only five people went inside to get their cards renewed, and this was after we called the humanitarian center at 9:30 to complain. A family with nine brothers came to the DCL. One of the brothers has been in jail and ever since all his brothers have been categorized as prevented passage by the GSS, their work permits have been canceled and they lost their income. I filled their documents for them, requesting to lift the prevention. Apparently I must have seemed so depressed that they had to encourage me:
"don't worry, eventually we will live in peace".

We left the DCL at 10:00 AM.

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.