PM
Ar-Ram, Qalandiya Wednesday afternoon 14 April 2004 Watchers: Ivonne M., Ruti B. (reporting), and guests Dorit N., Abigail R. Qalandiya, southern side: There were a lot of vendors’ stalls with much activity, and a feeling of normalcy amidst the general chaos.Transit-van drivers spoke of tires being slashed by soldiers at the checkpoint. There was a huge traffic jam and it was difficult to move in the direction toward Ramallah. The reason: a large truck was not allowed to go through, and there was no way for it to make a U-turn. All traffic was held up for about 40 minutes until the truck was finally moved through a special lane, but then an ambulance came and was stuck in the traffic. Qalandiya, northern side:The checkpoint is staffed by IDF soldiers from the Engineering Corps plus some new reservist volunteers [added as extra staff to serve at a checkpoint]. They didn’t have a hostile attitude. Michael, the commander of the checkpoint, allowed people through, such as an entire family of Bedouins, men from the area of Anata and Hebron. Ar-Ram:In light of the report from yesterday, we decided to see what was going on at Ar-Ram at these hours (17:00). There were about 12 detainees. All were men who live in the area of the checkpoint and wanted to return home (northbound). Some of them lived very nearby, and two were on their way to or from the hospital. We were able to convince the commander of the checkpoint to release them, and to our pleased surprise, within a half hour they were all released. An ambulance on its way from Ramallah to the Emergency Room at Muqassed Hospital, carrying a woman who had passed out, was delayed for a long time while a meticulous inspection was carried out. Of course, they did not have the proper papers. Ivonne contacted the Moked Center for the Defense of the Individual, and was shocked to hear that if they didn’t have the proper papers, they should have made prior arrangements. (Can one predict when there will be a medical emergency!) They were finally allowed to pass. Among the detainees were men who had been laid off from their jobs and did not receive severance pay. They should be referred to Kav La’Oved (a hotline for workers). For example, there was a man who had worked for 24 years cleaning a certain residential building [address provided], and had been given a letter stating that he had quit the job of his own volition. He received neither his final wages nor severance pay.We left at 18:00.
Hebron
See all reports for this place-
According to Wye Plantation Accords (1997), Hebron is divided in two: H1 is under Palestinian Authority control, H2 is under Israeli control. In Hebron there are 170,000 Palestinian citizens, 60,000 of them in H2. Between the two areas are permanent checkpoints, manned at all hours, preventing Palestinian movement between them and controlling passage of permit holders such as teachers and schoolchildren. Some 800 Jews live in Avraham Avinu Quarter and Tel Rumeida, on Givat HaAvot and in the wholesale market.
Checkpoints observed in H2:
- Bet Hameriva CP- manned with a pillbox
- Kapisha quarter CP (the northern side of Zion axis) - manned with a pillbox
- The 160 turn CP (the southern side of Zion axis) - manned with a pillbox
- Avraham Avinu quarter - watch station
- The pharmacy CP - checking inside a caravan with a magnometer
- Tarpat (1929) CP - checking inside a caravan with a magnometer
- Tel Rumeida CP - guarding station
- Beit Hadassah CP - guarding station
Three checkpoints around the Tomb of the Patriarchs
Muhammad D.May-13-2026Hebron - Request for compensation for land expropriation
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