International Checkpoint Watch - Daily Observations

Date:  10 July 2001                              Time:  17:00- 19:00
Place Observed:  Atara Checkpoint

Number of Soldiers Present, Names, ID #’s, License Plate #’s, Etc:

4 Soldiers.  1 Moroccan- early 20ies, 2 Russian-early 20ies, 1 Russian officer (arrived later)

Events Witnessed:

Upon arrival, the soldiers approach us in a friendly manner.  They seem to be interested in talking to someone and even “volunteer” some information about their duty: 4 months in one place, long hours (10-12 daily), no newspapers, little TV, getting their information from the army and only execute army orders.

We introduce ourselves as an international group observing soldiers’ behavior towards Palestinian civilians at checkpoints. The Moroccan soldier acts surprised when we explain that Palestinians had been abused, beaten and that sick people had died at checkpoints. He invites us to see how they search the taxis.  From what we learned, all men’s IDs (not women’s) are collected and checked against a “wanted list.” Most private cars are waved through.  The soldier explains that they do not check men with magnetic cards living in the area, men whose faces were known to the soldiers on duty, or women because of “cultural respect.”  He stated that  “we don’t want to make problems.” 

The Moroccan tells us that today he “had to arrest” one young man who had refused to stop and show his ID. He shows us a plastic wire (the type used for tying mail bags), with which they use to tie people’s hands.

About 1 hour later another officer arrives. He asks us for identification and after that none of them speak to us again.