Since 2001 we have observed dozens of army checkpoints on paved and unpaved roads in the West Bank, the Jordan Valley and along the Separation Fence; Civil Administration offices which grant permits to Palestinians; and military courts trying Palestinian prisoners. We stand at the checkpoints observing the behavior of soldiers and Palestinians without interfering, intervening only when soldiers behave offensively to Palestinians. Then we try to speak to the soldiers themselves or telephone...

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'Atara, Qalandiya, Sun 15.4.12, Afternoon

Date: 15/04/2012 ,Afternoon

Observers: Roni Hammermann and Tamar Fleishman (reporting)

'Atara

Checkpoint at the northern entrance to Ramallah from Route 465, called also Bir Zeit Checkpoint. Nowadays only remains of what used to be a busy checkpoint remain, a pillbox and concrete blocks.

Close description

Translating: Ruth Fleishman

Qalandiya:

While unconscious, a resident of Kafr 'Aqab was detained at the checkpoint until the permits from the bureaucratic system of the occupation came in.
They call it "coordinations" in the euphemistic language of the IDF.
In reality it is actually the control of the secret services over every detail of the individual's life.

Atara/Bir Zeit:

The performance described took place in a non-existing checkpoint:
A swearing reserve soldier greeted us. Once he and his friends understood that we weren't going to obey their orders and "bugger off" (as they put it), they closed themselves behind the fence of the site which is surrounded by a camouflage net, and held a session/lecture of which bits and piece reached us, regarding the subject- how and where should the checkpoint be deployed: "You will stand on the traffic island… to the direction of Ramallah… don't aim the weapon at the feet…"
-Where should they aim the weapon?