Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace in the world, Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts that have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy the freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people, … The General Assembly, Proclaims this Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

At the Beit Furiq Checkpoint, a Palestinian cheese producer approaches a soldier and asks to get through with his cheeses, for they spoil in the sun. The soldier says, “You can’t, your vehicle does not have a permit to enter Nablus”. The Palestinian answers: “Here, see? I have a license from the Ministry of Agriculture that I am allowed to get cheeses through. I have sheep, I make cheese and sell it in Ramallah, for Knafe pastry (pointing to dozens of pails filled with cheese). How do I carry all of this to Ramallah now, on my back?” The soldier orders him to “get in the car, turn around, and don’t let me see you here without a permit for your vehicle!” Half an hour later the Palestinian is back with a vehicle that is permitted to cross, loaded with cheeses. The soldier turns the car back again, for the vehicle has a transit permit but no permit for transferring goods. Only the third vehicle manages to get through. An hour later, at Huwara Checkpoint we see the man passing pails of cheese from his own car to another one. What happened? At the exit checkpoint from Nablus he had to pass his cheeses to a car that has a permit to exit Nablus through Huwara Checkpoint. Now he must find a vehicle permitted to cross Zaatara Checkpoint and continue to Ramallah. (From MW Alerts, March 2007)