Some see the Israeli checkpoint between Bethlehem and Jerusalem as a de facto border between the cities VIDEO CNN's Jerrold Kessel looks at the controversy over the checkpoint. Windows Media 28K 80K

August 9, 1999
Web posted at: 9:13 p.m. EDT (0113 GMT)

From Correspondent Jerrold Kessel

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (CNN) -- At an Israeli military checkpoint on the road from Jerusalem to the town of Bethlehem, Mahmoud, a Palestinian laboratory technician, explains to Israeli soldiers why he is carrying biological material across the West Bank.

He is bringing DNA samples to an Israeli hospital, Mahmoud says.

Though the questioning seems trivial, many Palestinians are frustrated by what they see as pointless, routine hassles. Some see it as an even more sinister plot: an Israeli attempt to establish a de facto border between Bethlehem and predominantly Arab East Jerusalem.

"They are going to transform this into a political border which is similar to the Erez before going into Gaza," said Bethlehem Mayor Hanna Nasser, referring to the rigid Erez checkpoint between Israel and Gaza.

Israel says the Bethlehem checkpoint is meant solely to ease the traffic jam expected at the millennium, when hundreds of thousands of pilgrims will flock to the town where Jesus was born.

During peaceful periods, Israeli guards ignore those who cross over for jobs in Jerusalem

Israel has already streamlined the checkpoint, which during times of high security bars all West Bank Palestinians from traveling into neighboring Jerusalem.

But when things are relaxed, the troops turn a blind eye to Palestinians crossing to jobs in the city.

"The whole idea is that people will be able to come in and go out of Bethlehem easily. No political problems as far as we're concerned. It has to be visually better," said Israeli army Captain Peter Lerner.

But Bethlehem's mayor is not satisfied.

"The only way to make it nicer is to take off the military checkpoint," Nasser said.

How the Israelis and Palestinians resolve this latest argument is likely to be a small indicator of how well the two sides can travel the peace road at the start of the coming millennium.

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