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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Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Fri 1.5.09, Morning

Date: 01/05/2009 ,Morning

Observers: Ephrat B., Clair O. (both reporting)

Bethlehem (300)

close to (“Jerusalem Envelope”) Wall in north Bethlehem, cutting West Bank off from East Jerusalem. This checkpoint which is the only entrance to Israel for residents of southern West Bank, Hebron and satellites, has a sophisticated terminal.

Click here to watch a video taken at Bethlehem checkpoint.

Close description

09:00 - 10:30 AM, Etzion DCL: many people passed without breaks or delays. Two positions were open, but no line formed.

There were no cases of the hand print machine not working, and no one was required to keep placing a hand on it, as was happening a month ago.

There were no cases of soldiers raising their voices.

Only when we were about to leave, we heard a woman soldier on the Palestinian side shouting, and a young couple came through and turned to us angrily: “It’s not right that the woman raises her voice and doesn’t even think of saying ‘please.’ In our culture it’s forbidden to talk like that to an adult! You have to tell her...”

“You’re right, in our culture too it’s not done.”

We approached a woman soldier who came out of the checkpoint office, but she did not respond. We phoned the Centre to complain.