These summaries not only prominent events but also the routine of the checkpoints, each of which is observed during a given period. During the many years of occupation, the Israeli Army and the Civil Administration have continually succeeded in tightening their control over the Palestinians living in their land inside the West Bank. Only those with a valid travel permit in their hand arrive at the checkpoints. These permits are mostly obtained with great difficulty and with deliberately imposedbureaucratic obstacles .
The Palestinians’ appalling problems in supporting...
Weekly Digest 28.10-3.11.07
Report date:
08/11/2007
Content:
Bethlehem area
Wednesday AM, 31.10.07
Bethlehem
CP,
06:35. 5 stations open, then a 6th. Lines are crowded and long. An Ecumenical volunteer says the CP opened at
05:15 but only one station. Later a second opened. By 07:05, the lines are considerably
shortened. Two of the security men are
civilians.
CP,
06:35. 5 stations open, then a 6th. Lines are crowded and long. An Ecumenical volunteer says the CP opened at
05:15 but only one station. Later a second opened. By 07:05, the lines are considerably
shortened. Two of the security men are
civilians.
DCL
Etzion
09:15. A 44 year old man tells us he
worked as a painter in Jerusalem for 20 years.
He was stopped today at the Bethlehem CP and summoned to appear at the
Ezyon DCL for a GSS investigation next week. He came in today because he does not
want to lose all those working days. They agreed to see him, but when we left he was still
waiting.
Etzion
09:15. A 44 year old man tells us he
worked as a painter in Jerusalem for 20 years.
He was stopped today at the Bethlehem CP and summoned to appear at the
Ezyon DCL for a GSS investigation next week. He came in today because he does not
want to lose all those working days. They agreed to see him, but when we left he was still
waiting.
The
police window was closed. We saw
no sign posted.
police window was closed. We saw
no sign posted.
Wednesday PM, 31.10.07
14:30 DCL Ezyon. The shed is empty. In the parking lot, sitting in his car, an
elegantly dressed man introduces himself as the head of the lawyers' bar in
Bethlehem. He is waiting for a permit to
visit a friend in Hadassah
hospital. Though he holds a green ID, he
is confident that he will get it ("I know the people at the DCL"), but has been
kept waiting since yesterday. He
expresses surprise at our presence and our agenda, and seems reluctant when we
ask whether he might cooperate with us on matters of mutual interest. What we do seems to him puny compared to the
major injustice of the occupation itself.
A simpler man emerges from the DCL, beaming. He got a magnetic card! We give him a ride to Al Nashash, from where
he will continue home to
Bethlehem.
elegantly dressed man introduces himself as the head of the lawyers' bar in
Bethlehem. He is waiting for a permit to
visit a friend in Hadassah
hospital. Though he holds a green ID, he
is confident that he will get it ("I know the people at the DCL"), but has been
kept waiting since yesterday. He
expresses surprise at our presence and our agenda, and seems reluctant when we
ask whether he might cooperate with us on matters of mutual interest. What we do seems to him puny compared to the
major injustice of the occupation itself.
A simpler man emerges from the DCL, beaming. He got a magnetic card! We give him a ride to Al Nashash, from where
he will continue home to
Bethlehem.
Bethlehem
CP,
15:30. 2 booths open, no
lines. As lines begin to form, a third booth is
opened. A civilian security man (looking very much like a uniformed soldier)
goes about his business with a sour face, but with efficient control. The workers and the CP personnel cooperate in
allowing the very few women to jump the queue and pass
rapidly.
CP,
15:30. 2 booths open, no
lines. As lines begin to form, a third booth is
opened. A civilian security man (looking very much like a uniformed soldier)
goes about his business with a sour face, but with efficient control. The workers and the CP personnel cooperate in
allowing the very few women to jump the queue and pass
rapidly.
Nablus
Area
Sunday, 28.10.07, PM
15:30,
Beit Iba. We've never seen the line of vehicles. At the CP, we're
immediately told that we have to stand by the white line, but there are so many
people trying to go into Nablus, so many soldiers, and the checking is so
laborious that it matters little where we stand. 2 soldiers at the
checking table, but everything is looked at, and it's very, very slow.
Two detainees, but they are in the compound for just two minutes.
At
the vehicle checking area, the situation is dreadful. Many soldiers and
one military policewoman make a bad situation worse by spending much
of their time chatting, laughing and disregarding the traffic. The placement of the new vehicle checking post means that the
soldiers are more distant, physically, from the oncoming traffic. They neither
know nor care that the line stretches for 250 meters down
the road.
the vehicle checking area, the situation is dreadful. Many soldiers and
one military policewoman make a bad situation worse by spending much
of their time chatting, laughing and disregarding the traffic. The placement of the new vehicle checking post means that the
soldiers are more distant, physically, from the oncoming traffic. They neither
know nor care that the line stretches for 250 meters down
the road.
16:45. We ask the drivers at the head of the line how long
they've been waiting. The answers are all over the map,
but the general consensus seems to be about 45
minutes.
they've been waiting. The answers are all over the map,
but the general consensus seems to be about 45
minutes.
16:55,
Jit Junction. 31 vehicles waiting, coming from the Beit Iba
direction, as this "permanent rolling" CP, one of the worst of its kind
in the Occupied Territories, shows its stripes. Checking is
laborious and slow.
Jit Junction. 31 vehicles waiting, coming from the Beit Iba
direction, as this "permanent rolling" CP, one of the worst of its kind
in the Occupied Territories, shows its stripes. Checking is
laborious and slow.
17:
15, Qalqilya. No line, swiftly moving traffic, as well as
pedestrians, pass the pumpkin-seed eating soldiers, who chat but let people through without harassment.
15, Qalqilya. No line, swiftly moving traffic, as well as
pedestrians, pass the pumpkin-seed eating soldiers, who chat but let people through without harassment.
Monday, 29.10.07, AM
07.45,
Beit Iba. The usual traffic jam. 15 cars waiting and nowhere
for cars to pass; checking is random. No lines exiting Nablus. No pedestrian
lines. Women and men over 35 are passed without a check.
Beit Iba. The usual traffic jam. 15 cars waiting and nowhere
for cars to pass; checking is random. No lines exiting Nablus. No pedestrian
lines. Women and men over 35 are passed without a check.
09.55,
Jit junction.
Jit junction.
Empty at 07:40, it is now manned. 25 cars in line. A driver reports he has been waiting an hour (probably half an hour as per our checking).
Soldiers joking among themselves, sending SMSs, and generally causing
delays.
Soldiers joking among themselves, sending SMSs, and generally causing
delays.
Tuesday, 30.10.07, AM
07:15--09:10,
Beit Iba. Many vehicles are waiting to get into Nablus. A taxi driver
tells us that he lives in Sebastia. After the closing of the notorious road no.
60 he and his friends used to drive to Beit Iba on side roads. The municipality
of Sebastia paved a road, paid for by the inhabitants. Now the army demolished
the road and blocked the main entrance with pit-holes and sand-mounds. We
checked our map: to reach Beit Iba they must go north and back south to Beit
Iba. According to him, it's about 25 km instead of 1.5 km. We suggested that the
municipality contact the Association for Human Rights.
Beit Iba. Many vehicles are waiting to get into Nablus. A taxi driver
tells us that he lives in Sebastia. After the closing of the notorious road no.
60 he and his friends used to drive to Beit Iba on side roads. The municipality
of Sebastia paved a road, paid for by the inhabitants. Now the army demolished
the road and blocked the main entrance with pit-holes and sand-mounds. We
checked our map: to reach Beit Iba they must go north and back south to Beit
Iba. According to him, it's about 25 km instead of 1.5 km. We suggested that the
municipality contact the Association for Human Rights.
At
the pedestrian checkpoint, a commotion such as we haven't seen for a long time.
Hundreds of people crowd the small space, the (new) soldiers are busy conducting
power-wars with the Palestinians, and most of time simply stop passing people,
men women and even "humanitarians". Waiting time: two hours. We called the
Humanitarian hotline five times, the DCL (District Coordination Office) twice.
They assured us a DCL officer is on his way. Due to the condition of the
checkpoint lines could not be formed. The commander and the soldiers kept
yelling "Irjah Lawara" (move back) - the men tried to do so, moved a meter at a
time, but the commander wasn't satisfied. One of the stops lasted 20 minutes.
the pedestrian checkpoint, a commotion such as we haven't seen for a long time.
Hundreds of people crowd the small space, the (new) soldiers are busy conducting
power-wars with the Palestinians, and most of time simply stop passing people,
men women and even "humanitarians". Waiting time: two hours. We called the
Humanitarian hotline five times, the DCL (District Coordination Office) twice.
They assured us a DCL officer is on his way. Due to the condition of the
checkpoint lines could not be formed. The commander and the soldiers kept
yelling "Irjah Lawara" (move back) - the men tried to do so, moved a meter at a
time, but the commander wasn't satisfied. One of the stops lasted 20 minutes.
Some
pearls of wisdom: "I'll fuck him if he doesn't move back" (pointing his rifle).
"As far as I'm concerned they can go back home". "Take off your pants" (in the
middle of the line!). When the soldier saw the startled look of the man he took
him aside. We don't know how far down the pants went. This was "random", not
because of any particular suspicion.
pearls of wisdom: "I'll fuck him if he doesn't move back" (pointing his rifle).
"As far as I'm concerned they can go back home". "Take off your pants" (in the
middle of the line!). When the soldier saw the startled look of the man he took
him aside. We don't know how far down the pants went. This was "random", not
because of any particular suspicion.
At
last the DCL lieutenant arrived, spoke with the commander and told everybody to
pass without any checking.
last the DCL lieutenant arrived, spoke with the commander and told everybody to
pass without any checking.
Tulkarm
Area
Sunday, 28.10.07, PM
14:00,
Ar-Ras. Only three or four vehicles in line. The soldiers check
everything, every truck thoroughly before letting it go southwards. As usual, no
checking towards Tulkarm.
14:20,
Jubara. Palestinian Israeli cars are checked thoroughly.
14:30,
Anabta. Traffic towards Tulkarm moves at a rapid pace, so that in three
minutes there is no line at all. On the other hand, the line from Tulkarm
already has 15 vehicles, and the soldiers seem in no hurry to beckon the first
one forward.
14:35. A few minutes later, the lack of consistency
manifested in this occupation is again made evident, as cars or trucks are
randomly searched, the idea being, no doubt to "keep them off balance."
Monday, 29.10.07, AM
06.35,
Qalqilya. The MP in charge argues with us about where we stand but
eventually gives in. We stop a driver who advises us that it took him nearly 40
minutes to exit the town. There are random checks of young people exiting. Then
chaos strikes. Frustrated drivers try to jump the queue, and a double line
develops, then a triple one. Cars and buses entering Qalqilya cannot pass.
Fortunately things somehow sort themselves. There is also a long line of about
12 cars entering.
Qalqilya. The MP in charge argues with us about where we stand but
eventually gives in. We stop a driver who advises us that it took him nearly 40
minutes to exit the town. There are random checks of young people exiting. Then
chaos strikes. Frustrated drivers try to jump the queue, and a double line
develops, then a triple one. Cars and buses entering Qalqilya cannot pass.
Fortunately things somehow sort themselves. There is also a long line of about
12 cars entering.
08.45,
Anabta. No lines; random checks of cars from Tulkarm.
Anabta. No lines; random checks of cars from Tulkarm.
09.20,
Ar-Ras. Uneventful
Ar-Ras. Uneventful
Tuesday, 30.10.07, AM
06:30--06:50,
Qalqilya. Israeli vehicles coming out of the city are checked very
thoroughly. Palestinian cars pass freely. Entrance is fast. The policeman
explains in a friendly way that the distinction between Israeli and Palestinian
vehicles is for security's sake.
09:30--09:45,
Anabta. Very few cars on both sides. From time to time short lines form
on the exit side from the city while the soldiers, as they wont to do at this
checkpoint, stop for a chat.
09:40--10:00,
Jubara & Ar-Ras. Sparse traffic on the exit side from Tulkarm,
hardly any vehicles entering the city.
Hebron
Area
Sunday
AM, 28.10.07, 06:00
- 10:15
AM, 28.10.07, 06:00
- 10:15
Sansana-
Meitar CP,
06:10. 30 workers queuing to pass into the checking area.
Those
emerging on the Israeli side remarked on the improvement in the speed of
checking. This may be because last
Sunday a worker suffered a heart attack while squashed in the enormous
queue. He is still hospitalized. Today there were more soldiers at each of the
4 checking points, and no breaks in their work.
Meitar CP,
06:10. 30 workers queuing to pass into the checking area.
Those
emerging on the Israeli side remarked on the improvement in the speed of
checking. This may be because last
Sunday a worker suffered a heart attack while squashed in the enormous
queue. He is still hospitalized. Today there were more soldiers at each of the
4 checking points, and no breaks in their work.
Route
60,
07:00 2 5-6 year old girls with satchels walking alone along route 60. The nearest school is 4 kms away at Dir
Razek. All CPs on the road were open as usual.
No soldiers in sight.
60,
07:00 2 5-6 year old girls with satchels walking alone along route 60. The nearest school is 4 kms away at Dir
Razek. All CPs on the road were open as usual.
No soldiers in sight.
Hebron
Tarpat
(1929) CP. A detained schoolboy of about 16, who wanted
to get to school on the Palestinian side of Hebron. The soldiers refused to tell
us what the problem was. According to an international volunteer who was
present, the boy was detained 20 ago. He
saw released 15 minutes later.
(1929) CP. A detained schoolboy of about 16, who wanted
to get to school on the Palestinian side of Hebron. The soldiers refused to tell
us what the problem was. According to an international volunteer who was
present, the boy was detained 20 ago. He
saw released 15 minutes later.
Tombs
of the Patriarchs,
08:30. One detainee. We couldn't find
out how long he had been there. The CO was very hostile.The detainee signaled to
us that he was afraid to speak to us. Another man arrived and was also detained.
We started to telephone, and while we were talking, both the detainees were
released.
of the Patriarchs,
08:30. One detainee. We couldn't find
out how long he had been there. The CO was very hostile.The detainee signaled to
us that he was afraid to speak to us. Another man arrived and was also detained.
We started to telephone, and while we were talking, both the detainees were
released.
Monday
AM, 29.10.07
AM, 29.10.07
Tarqumiya,
0800. 3 buses carrying prisoners' families pass,
another 3 are waiting and it’s unclear why. As soon
as we ask, their checking is resumed -- thanks to us?
0800. 3 buses carrying prisoners' families pass,
another 3 are waiting and it’s unclear why. As soon
as we ask, their checking is resumed -- thanks to us?
Between
Tarqumiya & Idna,
very little traffic.
Tarqumiya & Idna,
very little traffic.
Monday
PM, 29.10.07, 13:00-18:00
PM, 29.10.07, 13:00-18:00
Hebron. The town looks like a ghost town under siege.
We walked along Pharmacy CP via Gross square towards Shuhada street. Hardly any Palestinians around. A few people crossed the CP’s with their
groceries. One woman was not allowed to bring a shopping cart through.
We walked along Pharmacy CP via Gross square towards Shuhada street. Hardly any Palestinians around. A few people crossed the CP’s with their
groceries. One woman was not allowed to bring a shopping cart through.
Tel
Rumeida. A Jewish man told the soldiers that they were
forbidden to be here.” “This area is only for members of the three (sic!)
families and their guests, if they are duly registered. Here civilians dictate
the rules and give orders to the soldiers, even to the army, the government and
the entire country.
Rumeida. A Jewish man told the soldiers that they were
forbidden to be here.” “This area is only for members of the three (sic!)
families and their guests, if they are duly registered. Here civilians dictate
the rules and give orders to the soldiers, even to the army, the government and
the entire country.
Beit
Romano. A group of soldiers were being briefed prior
to going beyond the fence to patrol the Palestinian side of Hebron (H1).
Graffiti against Arabs on almost every door and wall -- ‘Death to Arabs’, Arabs out, etc.
Romano. A group of soldiers were being briefed prior
to going beyond the fence to patrol the Palestinian side of Hebron (H1).
Graffiti against Arabs on almost every door and wall -- ‘Death to Arabs’, Arabs out, etc.
Jordan Valley
Thursday 1.11.07, 10:00
- 16:30
- 16:30
All
CPs we visited were manned by reservists, who are less hostile and rude than the
regulars, but still stick to each arbitrary instruction
religiously.
CPs we visited were manned by reservists, who are less hostile and rude than the
regulars, but still stick to each arbitrary instruction
religiously.
Tapuach-Zaa'tara
Junction CP. 15 cars eastbound and 15 from Nablus, waiting
to be checked.
Junction CP. 15 cars eastbound and 15 from Nablus, waiting
to be checked.
Shelach
CP
on road 90. The soldier on the observation tower shrieks at us "Get out of here!". The CO won't even answer whether this is the
turnoff to road 90. Cars stop for a check on the roadside gravel, which is short
hence dangerous.
CP
on road 90. The soldier on the observation tower shrieks at us "Get out of here!". The CO won't even answer whether this is the
turnoff to road 90. Cars stop for a check on the roadside gravel, which is short
hence dangerous.
Hamra-Beqaot
CP,
13:00. A boy detained in a tiny cement cubicle in the middle of the CP compound,
awaited by family members. He says he's
been there for an hour. The soldiers say that "the GSS talked with him for 40
minutes so he must have done something".
He is released at 13:40. A police car delivers a shackled elderly man.
His shackles are removed. The man seems to complain that upon receiving his
documents, money was missing. Soldier: "How much money? Two notes of 20?" Man:
"What about the 50 shekel note?" One of the men in the police car, in civilian
dress and armed with a rifle, tries to drive us away. The policemen talk him out
of it. Then the man is shackled again,
blindfolded this time, and BP take him away.
CP,
13:00. A boy detained in a tiny cement cubicle in the middle of the CP compound,
awaited by family members. He says he's
been there for an hour. The soldiers say that "the GSS talked with him for 40
minutes so he must have done something".
He is released at 13:40. A police car delivers a shackled elderly man.
His shackles are removed. The man seems to complain that upon receiving his
documents, money was missing. Soldier: "How much money? Two notes of 20?" Man:
"What about the 50 shekel note?" One of the men in the police car, in civilian
dress and armed with a rifle, tries to drive us away. The policemen talk him out
of it. Then the man is shackled again,
blindfolded this time, and BP take him away.
Tyassir
CP.
No queue westbound. Arriving vehicles
are quickly dealt with. A line of about 10 cars snails it way eastward. Waiting
time: an hour and a half. The first car is processed within 2-3 minutes, but its
passengers must wait in the pedestrian shed until called for individual checks,
and much time passes in between checks. The soldiers are distressed by our
presence. Their CO apologizes that they
are new. A taxi arrives with 8 passengers. 2 women accompanying an apparently
blind 8-year old girl, scared out of her wits. She cannot find her way around
the turnstile, has to be in there alone, cannot deal with the metal-detector. She is addressed patiently in Hebrew by the
soldiers, but not spared the trial.
CP.
No queue westbound. Arriving vehicles
are quickly dealt with. A line of about 10 cars snails it way eastward. Waiting
time: an hour and a half. The first car is processed within 2-3 minutes, but its
passengers must wait in the pedestrian shed until called for individual checks,
and much time passes in between checks. The soldiers are distressed by our
presence. Their CO apologizes that they
are new. A taxi arrives with 8 passengers. 2 women accompanying an apparently
blind 8-year old girl, scared out of her wits. She cannot find her way around
the turnstile, has to be in there alone, cannot deal with the metal-detector. She is addressed patiently in Hebrew by the
soldiers, but not spared the trial.
Maale
Efraim CP. Once our accent is recognized, and license plates
noted, we are cheerily waved through.
Efraim CP. Once our accent is recognized, and license plates
noted, we are cheerily waved through.