International Checkpoint Watch - Daily Observations

Date:  June 12, 2001                                        Time:  16:20-18:05            
Place Observed:  Surda Checkpoint

  There were 4 soldiers in jeep 669343 (followed by the Hebrew letter tzadee) when we arrived. After several minutes, soldiers called us to them. “What are you writing?” was the first question. They asked to see the observation form. One soldier took my passport, the observation form and called someone on a cell phone. One soldier sitting in the jeep called me over to his side of the jeep. The soldier on the phone physically stopped me by putting his fist on my chest. Upon returning my passport and the form he told me in Hebrew, “Lekh,” and then in English, “Go away. Don’t come back [near him or the jeep].” I gently reminded him that they called us to them. He apologized and again sternly told me to “Go away.”

Summary

Soldiers present when we arrived were near the end of their 8-hour shift and not checking I.d.’s of pedestrians at all. Cars were only allowed to pass from Birzeit to Ramallah as a general rule. New soldiers who arrived checked many pedestrians’ I.d.’s.  Police were checking trucks going from Birzeit to Ramallah. No vehicles traveling from Birzeit to Ramallah were checked by any of the soldiers.

Events Witnessed

Soldiers changed at 17:00.

2 Police and 1 soldier arrive in police jeep at 17:30. Police begin stopping trucks traveling to Ramallah from Birzeit.

New solider, especially one names Uri, begins selecting young males 18-28 for I.d. check. If another soldier called one pedestrian from among a group, Uri usually made most of the group come for checks also.

One truck with construction stones is stopped for approximately 12 minutes by police, and then released.

16:20-16:50-Pedestrian traffic free flowing without any I.d. checks. Cars pass from Birzeit to Ramallah only, minus one exception, which is allowed to pass from Ramallah to Birzeit.

17:00-17:30-Pedestrian traffic free, though new soldiers are more energetic and ask many young males, 18-28, for I.D. Checks are short (About 1 min) and then the Palestinians are released. Soldiers at first allow those being checked to stand near them. Shortly afterwards all persons being checked are ordered to stand some 4 meters away from jeep and soldiers.  Traffic allowed to pass from Birzeit to Ramallah.  Traffic from Ramallah to Birzeit not allowed to pass with the exception of one car with a driver only who carries a Brazilian passport. 

17:30-18:00-Jeep of 2 police and 1 soldier arrive.

18:00-Police jeep with same occupants leaves.

18:05-We leave