RSS Feeds
The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil,    but because of the people who don't do anything about it    
Occupation magazine - Siege, Wall, Checkpoints

Home page  back Print  Send To friend

Weekly Digest: Reports from Checkpoints, 13.8.06--19.8.06
By MacsomWatch
http://www.machsomwatch.org



BETHLEHEM (CHECKPOINT 300) AND ENVIRONS


Date: Sunday AM, 13.8.06

Watchers: SP, OB, CA (reporting)

7:00 Bethlehem CP: A complete closure. One booth is open for the very few, sick, church visitors, and family unification cases, who can pass even during closure.

7:30 Al Nashash: Although there are many taxis, there aren`t many people.

8:30-10:30 Etzion DCL: Lots of people, many `customers. General disorder reigns in the waiting shed, which is unusual. This is caused it seems, by the breakdown of the electronic numerator and also by the terribly slow processing of people`s cases. The computers are down, as usual, and only 5-7 people have been dealt with in the first hour and a half. This creates uncertainty and nervousness when nothing happens and people stand in line in the scorching sun (in the passageway between the shed and the turnstile). The fans are only turned on when we turn the attention to them and within minutes a fight develops among those waiting in line. Officers from the headquarters come out, fully armed and with pointed guns order everyone to line up outside the shed. Every number is called up and ordered to go inside. When we try to call attention to what was actually going on before, we are threatened by the officer to be arrested by the police…


Date: Monday AM, 14.8.06

Watchers: CA. and RP.

Al- Nashash, 0700: A whole fleet of Army jeeps and a number of soldiers at the roundabout. They told us it was routine checking which meant a serious delay in the departure of every van taking people to the Hebron area.

Bet Umar, 0900: A man actually succeeded in getting a visa to the USA but numerous traffic offences and fines are making it difficult for him to be `clean` in order to cross over at the Allanby Bridge and get to Amman from whence he takes his flight to the USA.


Date: Tuesday PM, 15.8.2006.

Watchers: YI. and ID. (reporting)

Bet Ummar: A changing of the guards in the pillbox.

Al Aroub: A massive army presence, at least ten soldiers and a few vehicles. Apparently, half an hour ago some kids had thrown stones. One of the reservists on the spot smiled at us and another one remarked that he could think of something better to do than chase little children. Our friend, the father of the storeowner opposite the pillbox said that it might be smarter to let the kid go and not put him in jail for three months to make a terrorist out of him..

Etzion DCL: There were only a few people pushing against the turnstiles. There was actually a soldier who talked to them via the loudspeaker, but for the last half hour no one had entered. We tried to call, but were only able to leave a message. Nevertheless there was some movement. An elderly sickly man said that he could not come in the morning for his magnetic card and eventually left. A man who works at Keter needed his work permit extended and hoped they would revalidate his magnetic card (which only lapses in three weeks) at the same time. He had not much hope and realized that he might have to take another day off. He complained bitterly about the closure and the fact that he is always late for work because of the queues at the Bethlehem CP. A twenty-four year old man asked why he was not entitled to a magnetic card.
At Nashash: We delivered a paid receipt to a man. There were more women than men walking up the slope, most with young children and babies.

Tantur: Across the entrance twenty men had been taken off two buses and all were walked towards Bethlehem CP accompanied by a jeep with an obnoxious driver.

Bethlehem CP: The terminal was empty but for a few tourists and a lone Palestinian. The bored soldier confirmed that the closure was still in force. When we exited we saw that some of the detainees already received their papers after having signed the renowned paper.


Date: Wednesday AM, 16/08/06

Watchers: DP, RR, RM (reporting), Y (driver)

6:45 Bethlehem: Closure. A trickle of people and very few transits waiting for passengers outside.

7:30 Al Nashash: Less pedestrian and vehicles.

8:30 Etzion DCL: A soldier hands out numbers through the bars of the gate. About 30 people are waiting in the waiting area. M. who takes care of police issues is present today. We are told that people from Hebron must apply there for a magnetic card while work permits are only issued at Etzion, and that the lines in Hebron are packed with many humanitarian requests. A grandfather speaks at length about his granddaughter who married an Israeli 7 years ago and now cannot live with him in Israel.


Date: Thursday AM, 17.8.06.

Watchers: RE., RY. (reporting)

Rumor has it that the closure will be lifted on Sunday. Maybe.

06:45, Bethlehem CP. Very few people.

07:45, Etzion DCL. There are about fifty people. Age limit for having a magnetic card is still 27. Quite many people approach us, not being able to receive magnetic cards because they are on General Security Service list for some reason or other. We give them our colleague S’s phone number.


Date: Friday AM, 18.8.06.
Watchers: EB., MH., (reporting)

Al Nashash: Empty, no taxis waiting, no pedestrians, all the stands are closed.

Road 60: Heavy road constructions between Al Kahdre and Al Nashsash are changing the landscape.

Etzion roundabout CP: Unmanned.

Tunnel CP: No checking and no detainees, but a big traffic jam, perhaps due to the building of the new terminal.

Bethlehem CP: Completely empty, no taxis, cars or people. Inside, one lonely soldier tells us: “Closure”.



ABU-DIS AREA


Date: Tuesday PM,. 15.07.06.

Watchers: JW., RH., CG. RW (reporting)

Abu Dis: We saw no one along the wall -- not a BP vehicle and not a person.

The Container CP: There was a huge line up of vehicles in the direction of Bethlehem (perhaps because one of the trucks was carrying a car on it which had to be checked). Soon after we arrived, the traffic started moving faster.

Our former steady driver, who used to take us from the Pishpash to the Container, was in a state of total despair and just wanted to get away from the hopeless confinement he was in.

A taxi was detained for checking (one passenger said for 2 hours, another said for one hour). As we called to determine why the long delay in returning IDs, the documents were returned.




AR-RAM – QALANDIYA AREA


Date: Tuesday PM, 15.8.06

Watchers: MB, RH (reporting)

The roads and checkpoints were conspicuously empty (except for Anata). Where have all the people gone?

Ar-Ram, 15: 45. 3 cars, no pedestrians Only persons registered on the infamous `list` may pass.

Qalandiya, 16:15. Car passage is relatively busy Passengers are asked to leave the car and cross through the pedestrians` checkpoint. Buses coming from north towards Jerusalem have to let their passengers off to cross by foot. The driver waits for them at the bus station in the south. Over the loudspeakers we hear an incomprehensible mixture of Arabic and Hebrew screaming. The building next to the pedestrians` passage is almost completed. Apparently it will house government offices, such as offices of the Ministry of Interior and of Industry. We are the only persons passing the checkpoint.

Flying police CP in Neve Yaakob. 3 young men are brought to a police car, blocking one lane of the Neve Yaakob road. 2 of them have blue IDs and are released after a check. One is 14 years old and does not yet have an ID. He pushes a big plastic sack on wheels. It contains woolen army caps and socks. The policeman confiscates it, suspecting this is stolen goods. How does he know? The boy said he found it in the garbage box. The sack and the boy are taken to the police station.

Anata, 17:50 Rush hour. A long line of cars (we cannot see the end), waiting on their way to Jerusalem. Every car is being checked and the drivers have to get out, open the trunk, and present their IDs for computer check. This takes quite a while and the traffic jam grows. People are nervous from the wait and the heat, and shout to us `This is your famous democracy`. A soldier explains that this is not a CP, but the border to Israel. We try to enlighten him about the municipal borders of Jerusalem, but to no avail. A passer-by tells us that he appreciates very much our activity, but that the CPs have turned the Palestinians into `small, angry and frustrated creatures`. At 18:30 there is a certain relaxation of the traffic jam and we leave.


Date: Thursday AM, 17.8.06

Watchers: HY, MM (reporting)

A quiet morning - closure.

Ar-Ram 6.45. Very few people. Passengers in cars are checked at random. About 15 detainees, apparently holding green cards and work permits. The BP officer diligently examines the papers of each and lets them through. Everything is done calmly, and efficiently.

Qalandiya 7.45 The line of cars going south is short and the wait is reasonable. People come out of the terminal one by one, but in a constant flow. They all look calm and tell us that the passage to-day was `nice`.




MILITARY COURT OFER


Date: Wednesday AM, 16.8.06

Watchers: Hagit S., Norah O., Daniela Y., Roni H. (reporting)

Judge: Kaufman.

Defense lawyer: Sha`aban.

On trial: Rami Awaude, in his 30s, accused of membership in the military wing of Hammas. A witness for the prosecution called Razi is interrogated by the prosecutor. Razi tells the court that in 2005, Rami tried to recruit him to the military wing of Hammas to kidnap an Israeli citizen. Nothing came of this plan. Although Rami signed a confession on 9.1.06, he now states that he did not understand what was written on the paper, that he pleas not guilty. His lawyer, Sha`aban, suggested a deal with the prosecution, because he believes that the case against him is strong, and that the judge will sentence him to 2 years imprisonment at least. While the prosecution agrees to a plea bargain of 13 months, Rami Awaude refuses. Sha`aban tries to convince him, to no avail. Under the circumstances, Sha`aban announces that he wants to quit. This creates a difficult situation for the family, who would need to find another lawyer within 2 weeks, when the next hearing is scheduled.

The defense lawyers of 2 defendants did not arrive at court. Judge Kaufman is not ready to wait for them, and sends the defendants back to prison.

The file of Sima Abu Rahim cannot be found. His lawyer, Abir, needs to see the evidence before she can defend him. Judge Kaufman instructed the prosecution to find the file by 24.8.06, so that Abir can study it until the 6.9.06

In the case of a man who is accused of membership in Jihad, Judge Kaufman accepts the plea bargain between the prosecution and the defense. She sentenced him to 13 months imprisonment, and 15 months suspension for 5 years. The reason she stated was that the Jihad is known for its murderous intentions, and a person who joins it strengthens the organization.

In another case of a man accused of membership in the El Aqsa Brigades judge Kaufman again accepts a plea bargain. The accused asked the judge, if she sentences him with a clear conscience. She did not answer, but sentenced him to 15 months imprisonment and 12 months suspension for 5 years, and a fine of 3000 NIS (or 3 months imprisonment).

Defense lawyer Avi Bar-Am. His client, Jadallah, is accused of dealing arms. Until now Jadallah has defended himself, and Bar-Am has just stepped in as his lawyer. He asks to submit his defense a couple of days before the next session, scheduled for 6.9.06.



NABLUS AND TULKARM AREA


Date: Sunday PM, 13.8.06

Watchers: AW, SL (reporting)

12:30, on the way from Qalqilya. The huge concrete blocks have been removed from the road leading into Azun.

12:45, Jit Junction. Three yellow taxis are met by three soldiers at the checkpoint coming from the direction of Huwwara.

12:50, Rte 57, gas pump outside Kedumim’s industrial area. A lone Hummer has stopped at least 16 vehicles coming from the Beit Iba direction. The soldiers tell us that this checkpoint is not instead of Jit, but in addition to Jit. Six young men are detained. All have passed the Beit Iba checkpoint and are on their way to Ramallah or Qalqilya. One says he’s been there since 6:00 in the morning, the others, since 10:00. The soldiers, they tell us, have told them that they will be brought back to Nablus, “maybe after 17:00.” Our phone calls, both within the army and to the Moked do little good. Much, much later, we hear from the army’s Humanitarian Center that “it was a mistake” -- a mistake that the young men were allowed to get through the Beit Iba checkpoint. Meaning that “security” as enforced at a permanent checkpoint, such as Beit Iba, isn’t quite so secure after all?

13:00. A military vehicle arrives, bearing lunch for the soldiers. The soldiers eat. A woman strides from one car in the long line of patiently waiting vehicles, and tells us that she’s a physician from Jerusalem, that her grandchild is becoming dehydrated in the waiting car, that they’ve already spent one and a half hours going through the checkpoint in Beit Iba. She makes her way back to the car, but when the car tries to pass the soldiers, they pull it over once again and hold it for another check.

13:50. Another young man joins the detainees.

14:00, Deir Sharaf. A brand new, unmanned, swing arm barricade, the arm, thankfully open, plus surrounding concrete boulders placed across the roadway allowing just one car, or a truck with great difficulty, to squeeze through, at the turn off for the Shavei Shomron settlement, exactly where the well paved road becomes bad and bumpy. We stop. The DCL (District Coordination Office) representative’s jeep is there too. He, too, is amazed and tells us he’s going to phone to find out whose idea this was. We learn later it was the brigade commander’s, on the GSS’s (General Security Service) request.

14:30, Beit Iba. There are more than 30 vehicles, the majority huge semi trailers. At the head of the line, a truck driver tells he’s been waiting for more than two and a half hours, others say even longer.

14:40. At the pedestrian checking area, complete and utter chaos. The humanitarian line, open to the unrelenting sun, is full of people, mainly women and small children. One of the soldiers takes his gun, walks up to the turnstiles, not working well, full of men, and hits it hard on the metal, shouting, of course, as he does so. There is noise, pushing, shouting, chaos. 12 men are in the detention compound. The same DCL representative arrives, and on hearing our complaints tells us that he can’t deal with this commander, that a new shift is arriving and that things will improve.

14:50. The detainees are released.

15:05. At the women’s line, the chaos is soon cleared.

15:15. The chaos at the vehicle checking area continues, in both directions.

As we leave, a military transporter arrives with the young men from the rolling checkpoint at Kedumim. They’ve been brought back to Nablus – a couple of hours before the “promised” time!

16:05, Anabta. From Rte 57 towards the newly enlarged checkpoint at Anabta, there’s now a wider, dustier roadway, still with two single concrete check posts in the center, the one facing Tulkarm now graced with a megaphone which allows the soldiers to beckon cars forward with a loud blast or to call the patiently waiting pedestrians, standing between two narrow concrete walkways, on the Tulkarm side. The lines of vehicles from Tulkarm are endless. From the other direction, the four or five when we arrive increase to seven or eight vehicles as we leave. An owner of a bus company tells us that his driver received a blow from a soldier at Beit Iba earlier in the day (based on the shift we saw leaving, hardly surprising).

16:40, Jubara. The 18 month old checkpoint is being rebuilt, renovated and revamped. There are already huge concrete structures in the middle of the checkpoint, and only one lane leading out of the Occupied Territories.

16: 45, Ar-Ras. Here, too, there’s construction going on. The line of vehicles stretches, as usual, down the hill in the Tulkarm direction.


Date: Sunday PM, 13.8.06

Watchers: JB, NP, TH (reporting)

15:25--18:45, Huwwara (a Rashomon). A new unit mans the checkpoint. We received an extensive explanation from Company Commander R. who spoke to us with the kind of patience and courtesy that we have not encountered in this place, ever. According to him, this new force has been here 4 days now, they`re learning, intending to split the `humanitarian` side line into two lines, one for women only because men keep getting into their line and pushing them back, making them wait too long. Thus the commander. We did witness him listening to problems that came up, not waving people off dismissively.

And now – what we actually saw and heard: A huge number of women and children waiting for their men still stuck in the waiting lines. Veiled women waiting in line for the woman-soldier to inspect them inside the `women`s inspection booth`. Children and mothers tell us they have been standing for over two hours in the special `humanitarian` line. Also from the `humanitarian` line: the securing soldier points his rifle at the passers chests 30 cm. away, facing the soldier checking their IDs. It is hardly possible for them to move in between the two without touching the weapon. Women tell us of impossible conditions in the line, hours of waiting, hysterical girl sobbing incessantly, a very pregnant woman (perhaps beginning labor) who could be extricated from there only with great difficulty, soldiers so tense and intent on maintaining `order` in the line to the point that anyone not standing still like a mummy is considered a troublemaker and is restrained and thrown to the detainees` concrete cell. During our vigil at least three different men were treated that way, hands restrained behind their backs.

16:50, Beit Furiq. Tremendous pressure, vehicles waiting for hours in both directions, accumulation of pedestrians waiting to exit Nablus, not only enter it. Naturally so are the ones waiting to exit. Checkpoint commander refuses to speak to us. The very few soldiers seem in a state of shock. They scan their lists of ID numbers, in the meantime the crowd just grows and grows, women, men, elderly, children all crowded in a huge mass, in the scathing sun. Palestinians finally coming out of this report a wait of 3-4 hours in the `humanitarian` line. A truck driver from Beit Dajan tells us that yesterday he was waiting to be checked from 2:30 until 8:30 p.m. We call the army `humanitarian` hotline again and again and they can`t help.

17:30, back to Huwwara. B., DCL (District Coordination Office) representative, listen to our account about Beit Furiq, makes a call and promises to go there post haste as soon as his fellow DCL officer arrives to pick him up. Meanwhile: a boy is handcuffed and detained (his mates tell us the soldier hit him as well) for… possession of a weapon. Eventually we found out this had been the picture of a gun. The CP commander releases the virtual gunman. A sergeant checking the vehicles keeps approaching the spot where people are waiting for their families stuck in line, and chases everyone away, us included. So where? Again we see that little dismissive wave of the hand generally indicating some far away point in Huwwara.

The DCL jeep arrives and the representatives take off for Beit Furiq.


Date: Tuesday AM, 15.8.06

Watchers: RC, EB (reporting)

06:15--06:45, Jubara & A-Ras. We go up the village and down to Ar-Ras. A few vehicles on both sides, and some people going into the village.

07:00--07:30, Anabta. We can`t get information from the soldiers. From the taxi-drivers & others and from watching we gather that young men are not allowed to exit; all male students are sent back. A creepy innovation is a free-standing very narrow concrete passage, a few meters long and no more than one meter wide, where pedestrians coming out of Tulkarm are supposed to wait till called to proceed. Men, women and children stand in a single file. More than anything this reminded me of the courses leading cattle in slaughterhouses.

On the way from Jubara we encounter a new barrier -- near the quarry at the new turning to Shavei Shomron half the road is blocked and there`s an iron arm ready to block the other half.

07:40--09:15, Beit Iba. The checkpoint is teeming with people on both sides, many families with children. On the exit side from Nablus only one turnstile is active and every bag or parcel is inspected. On the entrance side the three usual lines: women and children, the elderly and young men. The first two lines move fairly fast, the men`s line is slow. The notorious shouts never stop: `Move back! more! more! more! Move back!` Even when the men stand far enough from the soldiers.


Date: Wednesday AM, 16.8.06

Watchers: NS, HA (reporting)

7.48, Zaatara Junction. 33 cars are waiting in line from the west, one checking point. From the north – there are 3 checking points. In the guard’s cubicle a soldier is pointing his gun at the waiting cars. 36 cars are in line.

Junction roads 57/60. The checking point is unmanned.

8.10, Huwwara. There are 2 checking points + a humanitarian one. The screening car is functioning. Very few leave town but there is a steady stream of people entering. It is very hot today. Every now and then 2 more soldiers join the checkup at the entrance to Nablus.

8.25. In the cubicle a man is being checked. There are 3 men in there. When we got back to Huwwara, at 9.55, the checking cubicle is empty.

9.10, Beit Furiq. There are about 15 cars in line leaving the village to go to Nablus. The Turnstiles are broken and about 20 persons stand in line to pass, out of the shaded area, in tremendous heat. One soldier is checking and sometimes another joins him.

9.45. We complained to the Humanitarian Centre about the queue in the sun and the slow checking.

10.50, Zaatara Junction. There are 16 cars in line from the north, no cars from the west.




RY

Links to the latest articles in this section

Electricity blackouts put lives of Palestinian patients in Gaza at extreme risk
In celebration and anticipation
VIDEO Aug. 27 Bilin Demo