Seamline Zone
The Seam Zone is part of Area C, imprisoned between the Green Line and the Separation Barrier, entirely comprised of Palestinian land.
The excuse for its establishment was de-facto annexation to Israel of the settlements situated within the area. For Palestinians, this is a military zone and they are allowed to enter it and to spend time there only if they have a transit permit.
The majority of Palestinian villagers work and make their living on the land, land which consists of thousands of dunams of rich agricultural land. The separation barrier has cut off many of them from this land.
In order to give access to these agricultural territories which were enclosed in the seamline zone, Israel has opened entrances in these territories of the seamline zone, called agricultural checkpoints.
Agricultural checkpoints
Israel has recognized the damage the separation barrier has done to the fabric of Palestinian life and has opened entrances in the territories of the seamline zones (called agricultural checkpoints) in order to give the settlers access to their lands which have been incorporated into the seamline zone.
Out of more than 75 checkpoints that
At these checkpoints, there is a complicated and narrow network of prohibitions and permits. Entrance into these areas is limited to Palestinians possessing an agricultural permit which can be obtained only by presenting proof of ownership in the form of a document. In many cases these are lands which have been in family ownership for hundreds of years, passing from father to son. Even if there is an official document of ownership, permission to enter these territories will be granted only to the head of the family – the father. Thus, many agriculturalists are forced to abandon their land.
More than 70 checkpoints were erected in the Separation Barrier - less than 30 checkpoints function for once a week or more. The rest are permanently closed or open once a year.
Agricultural workers throughout the entire world tend their lands daily, without needing to obtain permits to realize this basic right.
Read more on the Bureaucracy of the Occupation
An example in the Qalqiliya area: Opening/closing hours of agricultural checkpoints through which a Palestinian farmer is forced to cross in order to cultivate his land in the seam area
behind the separation barrier.
In other words, Palestinian farmers are removed from their property, their pride and their source of livelihood.
| Checkpoint | No | Morning opening Hrs | Noon opening Hrs | Evening opening Hrs | Comments |
| Falamia | 914 | 05:55 – 06:35 | 12:45 – 13:15 | 15:40 – 16:15 | Pedestrian only |
| Falamia south | 965 | 06:45 – 07:10 | 13:20 – 13:50 | 16:20 – 16:50 | Pedestrian only |
| Jayous | 1012 | 07:20 – 07:30 | 14:00 – 14:15 |
15:15 – 15:25 | Opens through the village |
| H' Issla | 1231 | 07:45 – 08:00 | --- |
17:00 – 17:25 | Pedestrian only |
| Habla | 1393 | 06:00 – 07:30 | 13:15 – 14:15 |
16:30 – 17:10 | Pedestrian only |
| Beit Amin South | 1447 | 07:45 – 08:00 08:00 - 08:15 |
--- | 16:15 – 16:35 16:50 – 17:05 |
Pedestrian only Vehecle permit denied |
| Abu salman North | 1419 | 05:30 – 05:40 05:40 – 05:50 |
--- |
15:20 – 15:30 15:30 – 15:40 |
Pedestrian only Vehecles permitted |
| Salit | 839 | 06:00 – 06:30 | 14:00 – 14:30 |
Pedestrian only | |
| Wadi Magen Dan | 1567 | 06:00 – 06:15 | 12:30 – 12:45 |
16:15 – 16:30 | Pedestrian only |