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...
Abu Dis, Container (Wadi Nar), Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal), Sheikh Saed, Silwan, Tue 17.7.12, Morning
17/07/2012 ,Morning
Idit S., Anat T. (reporting)
Silwan
7:00 Sheikh Saed Checkpoint
This time the usual problem of permitting us to stand on the hill above the checkpoint is quickly resolved, the border police commander remembers that we're allowed, and in parallel we encounter a new agent, the officer for interntiional organisations of the Jerusalem Envelope, who also permits.
Labourers with permits cross the checkpoit quickly, and the Palestinians speak of the impending Ramadan. We see two children, 7 and 10, with a bag of food, waiting at the exit. Summer camp? It seems not, because an adult carrying tools arrives and gestures to them to follow him...
7:40 Drive through Silwan
Traffic is disrupted due to the blocking of one lane for work on pipe replacements -- from the turn off to the Bustan neighbourhood to the ascent on Ein Hilweh Street (in Hebrew called: Ma'alot City of David).
In the ruined playground on Ein Hilweh a mini football field has been set up with money from donations. At the top of the street, at the entrance to City of David, one lane is blocked for excavations. Will they ever end? No road block at the exit to Derech Ha-Ofel, only moveable barriers in anticipation of future events...
8:00 Olive Terminal
Beyond the checkpoint a jeep is parked: 3 soldiers and 3 women -- illegal residents -- on their way to arrest. A daily event in this area, except that generally it's not women. Lively traffic of mini-buses and a large group of young women, babies and children from Jericho, on their way for a day of fun in Jaffa. The sense of vacation is palpable, as is the excitement towards approaching Ramadan.
The checkpoint itself is pretty empty, no lines even though only one lane is open. The toilets are locked; we're told that they were fixed and will reopen on Ramadan.
9:00 Wadi Nar
A record number of young dogs, busy with their own territorial drama around the checkpoint, greets us with indifference. But if truth be told, 6 such dogs turning their attention to you can be pretty scary, and we think this should be attended to. The dogs will not resolve the problem of the"equality" draft in Israel, and the checkpoint as a civilian crossing place should not be a place civilians would be afraid to approach. We alerted the person responsible for this section of the Jerusalem Envelope; he had not been aware of the situation.
Huwwara checkpoint 25.09.07
Huwwara checkpoint 25.09.07
Huwwara checkpoint 25.09.07
Hebron 20.08.07
Hebron 20.08.07
Hebron 20.08.07
Hebron 20.08.07
Hebron 20.08.07
Bani Na'im 16.08.07
Bani Na'im 16.08.07
Bani Na'im 16.08.07
Huwwara 2004
Huwwara checkpoint 2004
Huwwara checkpoint 2004
Huwwara checkpoint 2004
Silwan 21.04.08
Anabta checkpoint 24.06.08
Anabta checkpoint 24.06.08
Anabta checkpoint 24.06.08
Anabta checkpoint 24.06.08
Huwwara vicinity 18.09.08
Route 60 18.09.08
Route 60 18.09.08
Beit Furik 16.09.08
Hebron 01.06.09
Hebron 10.06.09
Etzion area 22.06.09
Etzion area 22.06.09
Etzion area 22.06.09
Hebron 04.08.09
Hebron 04.08.09
Route 60 20.07.09
Route 60 20.07.09
Route 60 20.07.09
Route 60 20.07.09
Route 60 20.07.09
Route 60 22.06.09
Route 60 22.06.09
Route 60 22.06.09
Huwwara checkpoint 06.08.09
Gush Etzion 05.10.09
Gush Etzion 05.10.09
Gush Etzion 05.10.09
Gush Etzion 05.10.09
Gush Etzion 05.10.09
Gush Etzion 05.10.09
Gush Etzion 05.10.09
Gush Etzion 05.10.09
Gush Etzion 05.10.09
Huwwara village 29.04.10
Huwwara village 29.04.10
Huwwara village 29.04.10
Sha'are Tiqwa 06.06.10
Route 60 26.07.10
Route 60 26.07.10
Route 60 26.07.10
Route 60 26.07.10
Route 60 26.07.10
Hebron 19.07.10
Hebron 19.07.10
Hebron 19.07.10
Hebron 29.06.10
Hebron 17.11.05
Bani Na'im 16.08.07
Hebron 13.07.07
Hebron 13.07.07
Jit checkpoint 04.11.08
Huwwara checkpoint 27.01.11
Za'tara/tapuach checkpoint 23.02.11
Hussan Junction 23.02.11
Huwwara village 01.03.11
Huwwara village 01.03.11
Huwwara village 01.03.11
Hebron/Tel Rumeida 01.03.11
Hebron/Kiryat Arba 01.03.11
Bethlehem Vicinity 02.03.11
Teqoa settlement 02.03.11
Moskovitz Hill 26.05.05
Huwwara checkpoint 24.03.11
Za'tara checkpoint 24.03.11
Huwwara checkpoint 24.03.11
Seam zone 16.04.11
New settlement 21.04.11
Hebron 03.05.11
Avichai Settlement 03.05.11
Traffic Circle at Gush Etzion 14.03.11
Traffic Circle at Gush Etzion 14.03.11
Avichai Settlement 03.05.11
Za'tara Checkpoint 05.05.11
Za'tara Checkpoint 05.05.11
Kiryat Arba 22.05.11
Hebron, Curve 160 22.5.11
Hebron 22.5.11
Hebron 22.05.11
Hebron 22.05.11
Za'tara/Tapuach Checkpoint 26.05.11
Qedar Settlement 26.05.11
Route 60 13.06.11
Route 60 13.06.11
Route 60 13.06.11
Route 60 13.06.11
Al Kher 14.06.11
Hebron 21.06.11
South Hebron hills 03.02.11
South Hebron hills 03.02.11
Za'tara/Tapuach checkpoint 11.08.11
Federman Ranch, Hebron 14.08.11
Gutnik Center, Hebron 14.08.11
Reikhan Settlement 18.08.11
Deir Nidham 30.08.11
An Nabi Salih 30.08.11
Ale Zahav Settlement 30.08.11
Kiryat Arba, Hebron 13.09.11
Route 60, Gush Etzion 19.09.11
Route 60, Gush Etzion 19.09.11
Route 60, Gush Etzion 19.09.11
Route 60, Gush Etzion 14.02.11
Route 60, Gush Etzion 21.03.11
Mas-ha Gate #1549 27.09.11
Mas-ha 27.09.11
Mas-Ha 27.09.11
Za'tara checkpoint 18.10.11
Burin village 22.10.11
Za'tara checkpoint 27.10.11
Route 60/Etzion traffic circle 01.11.11
Route 60/Etzion Traffic circle 01.11.11
Route 60/Etzion traffic circle 01.11.11
Tapuach settlement 01.11.11
Bethlehem 07.11.11
Gush Etzion 07.11.11
Route 60 11.11.11
Gush Etzion 14.11.11
Route 60 21.11.11
Gush Etzion 28.11.11
Za'tara/Tapuach checkpoint 24.11.11
Huwwara checkpoint 24.11.11
Hebron 27.11.11
Hebron 27.11.11
Hebron 27.11.11
Abigail Settlement 27.11.11
Maskiyot settlement 06.12.11
Bruqin village 07.12.11
Bruqin village 07.12.11
Bruqin village 07.12.11
Bruqin village 07.12.11
Gilad Ranch 08.12.11
Route 60 08.12.11
Haris village 14.12.11
Haris Village 14.12.11
Hebron 18.12.11
Hebron 18.12.11
Hebron 19.12.11
Hebron 19.12.11
Hebron 19.12.11
Mas-ha 24.12.11
Alfe Menashe settlement 04.01.12
Bruhin settlement 06.01.12
Hebron 30.01.12
Hebron 30.01.12
Hebron 30.01.12
Hebron vicinity 06.02.12
Hebron 12.02.12
Hebron 12.02.12
Hebron 12.02.12
Hebron 12.02.12
Hebron 16.02.12
Hebron vicinity 16.02.12
Khirbet Shuweika village 21.02.12
Khirbet Shuweika 21.02.12
Hebron 26.02.12
Hebron 26.02.12
Hebron 26.02.12
Maskiyot settlement 27.03.12
Hebron 16.04.12
Hebron 16.04.12
Hebron, Shuhada street 16.04.12
Hebron 16.04.12
Route 585 25.04.12
Hebron 21.05.12
Route 60 04.06.12
Route 60 04.06.12
Route 60 11.06.12
Route 60 11.06.12
Route 60 11.06.12
Route 60 11.06.12
Route 60 11.06.12
Jit Junction 14.06.12
Route 60 18.06.12
Route 60 18.06.12
Hebron vicinity 18.06.12
Ja'ba village 24.06.12
Route 60 16.07.12
Route 60 16.07.12
Hebron 03.07.12
Hebron 03.07.12
Hebron 03.07.12
Tura/Shaked checkpoint 21.07.12
Alon road/route 578 06.08.12
Awarta village 23.08 12
Qedumim industrial zone 05.09.12
Nablus vicinity 06.09.12
Tel Rumeida, Hebron 11.09.12
Alon road/route 578 02.10.12
Ma'ale Efrayim checkpoint 02.10.12
Jordan valley, Alon road/route 578 02.10.12
Route 60 09.10.12
Hebron 09.10.12
Hebron 09.10.12
Hebron 15.10.12
Za'tara/Tapuach checkpoint 01.11.12
Za'tara/Tapuach checkpoint 01.11.12
Hebron vicinity 29.10.12
Mitspe Abigail, 06.11.12
Mitspe Abigail 06.11.12
Kiryat Arba 02.12.12
Hebron 16.01.13
