International Checkpoint Watch - Daily Observations

Date:  June  15, 2001                            Time:  16:45- 21:00                                                                  

Place Observed:  Qalandia Checkpoint

Number of Soldiers Present:  varied at times between 8 and 11

Events Witnessed:

16:45    IDF jeep pulls up in front of a service taxi heading towards Jerusalem.  Two soldier jump out of the jeep.  One smashes the front headlight of the service, and the other slams the butt of his rifle on a yellow stretched taxi that was driving passed.  The soldiers seem extremely agitated and aggressive.  We ask one of the soldiers why he smashed the headlight of the van, as the reason was not apparent (the jeep had only just pulled up, and the taxi had done nothing).  He tells us to ask Ariel Sharon

17:00    The soldiers are not allowing any Palestinians with Jerusalem ids through the checkpoint, making them all turn around.  We identify ourselves as members of International Checkpoint Watch and ask some of the soldiers why they are doing this and whether or not it is a new policy.  They generally ignore us and do not answer.  One soldier asks us to ask Ariel Sharon, and another explains to us that it is because of the curfew. After further probing, we realize he means closure.

17:08    After asking one vehicle for identification, one soldier leaves towards the tent with a box of Kleenex that he had taken from the vehicle.  We try to ascertain whether this was a gift or not, but to no avail.

17:15    8 soldiers present.

17:53    2 cars try to go on detour around checkpoint (near Bedouin tent) and are stopped by two soldiers.  Soldiers take the car keys from both the drivers.  Drivers tell us that the soldiers have told them to wait 4 hours and then they will return their keys.  We speak with soldiers a lot, trying to get keys released.  The soldier released the keys at 8:25.

18:20    Service driver is stopped and soldiers ask for his id.  The driver does not have his ID with him, only his license.  Soldiers tell him to bring proper identification with him next time and detain him until 6:47.

18:55    Army jeep shows up with 3 additional soldiers, now bringing total number of soldiers present to 11.  Perhaps one more soldier is up in the tent.

19:30    Man approaches soldiers and says he has an emergency and must get his car through the checkpoint.  He and son have to get to the airport to catch a plane, and it is getting late.  Shows soldiers the plane tickets.  They allow car to pull ahead of line.  Soldiers checked IDs, the car and the bags.  The soldiers let man and his son pass within 5 minutes.

20:00    Two soldiers walk down the road in the direction of Jerusalem.  We witness them in the distance speaking to a service driver (Palestinian plates) and then proceeding to break the left front headlight with the butt of a gun.  When they walk back we ask them why they broke the headlight.  The soldiers deny the incident.

20:10    Soldiers stop yellow-plated taxi on way to Jerusalem with man driving, wife in passenger seat and children in the back.  4 or 5 soldiers are present.  Soldiers ask for ID of the man driving, and then we witness a lot of yelling and two of the soldiers drawing their guns at his head.  One or two other soldiers grab the driver and force him out of his vehicle.  The children are crying and upset.  The soldiers take him inside the fence, behind the barriers, and one shot is fired.  We go up close and soldiers tell me to get back, that he has a knife and drew in on them.  We ask the wife what has happened and she tells us that a screwdriver fell out of the glove compartment.  We move to a position where we can observe them frisking the man.  The soldiers move car to side of road. 

20:35     Man is released.  We go to speak with him.  He and wife say that when soldiers asked for his ID, he went to open the glove box to get it.  There was a screwdriver in the glove box, which fell out.  When he turned to give the soldiers his ID, they thought he was pulling a knife on them.  He said when they took him back behind barrier, they fired the shot into the air.       

20:37    A man, wife and his two children walk through checkpoint.  The man named Iyad (Jerusalem ID) said to his children something like “the Israelis are dogs,” or “they are dogs.”  One soldiers gets very angry and asks for his id and pulls him aside and tells him to wait.  His children are crying and screaming.  The older boy says he thinks the soldiers will shoot his father.  Iyad sits on ground.  After a few minutes they take him back behind barrier.  His wife, Lena is told by the soldiers to leave immediately claiming that if she did so Iyad would be back at home in one hour.  But soldiers say that if she does not leave now, he would not come back until tomorrow.  We continue to ask the soldiers if Iyad is ok and whether or not he is being beaten.  One soldier seems to suggest no.  Iyad’s father, mother and brother Haitham show up asking soldiers about him. 

21:30    Iyad is released.  He tells us that soldiers verbally threatened him many times - to shoot him, break his knee, and made some motions to do so.  The soldiers did not beat him.