Guide to a West Bank Checkpoint

[vierundzwanzig]

Introduction


A recent report by a group of 20 aid agencies has drawn public attention to one of the little reported aspects of the continuing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians – checkpoints and roadblocks in the West Bank and Gaza.
The report said these travel restrictions – some of them in place since the beginning of the intifada in 2000 - limit Palestinians' access to schools and medical care, increase frustration and destroy hopes for peace.

Israel says the measures are vital to stop suicide bombers flooding into its cities to terrorise the civilian population. However, the army has periodically eased travel restrictions, for example during the three-month ceasefire by Palestinian militants in summer 2003.

The restrictions range from unguarded earth-and-concrete barriers to complex military checkpoints where documents can be inspected and people and vehicles searched.

Some of these divide Palestinian-controlled areas from Israeli ones – but others, particularly unguarded barriers, are located in the middle of Palestinian areas.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/middle_east/03/w_bank_checkpoints/html/default.stm

Note: I understand this is not a news story but nevertheless published today and important to the understanding of the I/P conflict.

[Resistance]

1. thanks for posting

I don't know if you have seen this, vierundzwanzig: B'Tselem published a report recently on abuse at checkpoints ...

Sarra Checkpoint - A Week of Severe Abuse

Today B'Tselem released a report describing a series of cases of severe abuse by IDF soldiers over the past week at the Sarra checkpoint, next to Nablus.

B'Tselem's checkpoint monitors took testimonies from ten Palestinians who were assaulted between December 27-31 by soldiers serving at the checkpoint. The abuse included a mock execution, severe beatings and tying up the victims. The abuse occurred on a regular basis.

After documenting the first case on December 28, B’Tselem sent urgent appeals to various IDF officials to stop the abuse, remove the soldiers from the checkpoint and initiate investigations. In spite of these appeals, the abuse continued all week.

[Aidoneus]

2. sorry, this is a bit off-topic..

I keep forgetting to ask this, and it is on my mind now,
How long was your recent stay in Palestine? The bits & pieces you've worked into posts recently have been very nice to read, thanks.

[vierundzwanzig]

3. 5 weeks

But then there is my job that make money. There is a short documentary in the making that might finance another visit.

This. of course, excludes any partial groups willing to contribute money.

I go, I observe, I report and nobody pays my way (although hopefully somebody because of going by myself, in spite of the increased risk, can yield spectacular results) will pay my way..

But in spite of a 501 (c) 3 willing to pay I refused any partial opinion I came up with what I utter.

If that doesn't suit you, I don't know what will.