Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Sun 18.5.08, Afternoon

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Bethlehem (300)

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Observers:

Shlomit S., Yael S. (reporting). Translation: Jonathan M.

May-18-2008

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Afternoon

A day full of surprises.

12:30 Etzion DCL: The first surprise was when we arrived and saw almost 70 Palestinians waiting in line: seven of them were waiting for GSS (General Security Service) interrogation and the rest for magnetic cards and permits. Why were there so many people there?

We were told at arrival that 20 people were admitted by 12:30 PM.

I was preparing myself to start expediting the process when the computers at Beit-El crashed and everything came to a halt. After about 15 minutes we were told that we might as well go home. This lead to a large commotion among the Palestinians. About 20 or 30 people gave up and left.

Two of the people needed a permit for the following day. One person was waiting for a medical permit and stayed. The other needed a permit to meet with a human rights group and eventually left. Another person needed a medical permit for the day after the next one. Meanwhile Shlomit helped some Christian women to get some assistance from the police.

The second surprise was when the head of the Civil Administration info-icon arrived in person and talked to us for a few minutes. I introduced myself and called Shlomit to join us. We mentioned the large number of Palestinians waiting for assistance and the crashed computers. An order was given to immediately fix the computers.

4:30 PM: We took half an hour break. When we returned the computers were working and people were exiting with magnetic cards (or refusals). The woman who needed to meet with the human rights organization returned to pick up her permit and a permit for a friend. After about an hour she exited with both permits. The man who needed the medical permit was admitted (despite claims that his permit had not arrived) and received his permit. And even the person who needed the medical permit for the day after tomorrow received it.

It seems obvious that the presence of the head of the Civil Administration helped a lot, but he can not be everywhere all the time. In addition there is no control system of what happens on the ground in real time.

We regretted the fact that some Palestinian left the checkpoint before the computers were fixed.

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.