International Checkpoint Watch - Daily Observations

Date:  14/08/01        Time:  06:45-08:00          
Place Observed:  Surda Checkpoint

Number of Soldiers Present:  4

Soldiers Names, ID#’s, License Plate #’s, Etc: Jeep Registration no. 610 765 

Events Witnessed:

There are cement-blocks blocking the road on both sides of the curve on which the checkpoint is located, and a mound of earth over the road on the Ramallah side of the checkpoint.  An Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) is stationed on a hill over looking the checkpoint, and a small watchtower is located on the hill between the APC and the checkpoint.

06:45    The soldiers keep the cars waiting in line even when they are not busy, only allowing a few cars to pass from Surda. Of the cars let through, some cars are allowed to pass after a brief ID check, while others are thoroughly searched. No cars are allowed past from Ramallah.  Lots of workers are passing through towards Ramallah on foot.

07:00    One car is detained for 5 minutes while the soldiers sit with the car’s passengers’ IDs in the jeep.

07:20    The jeep leaves towards the vegetable stand near the checkpoint and goes out of sight around the bend. Two soldiers stay behind and allow cars to pass without checking them.

07:14    Soldiers stop a service taxi coming from Ramallah and make the driver turn around and go back.  Two young men are stopped for 2 minutes while their IDs are checked.

07:17   Soldiers take one man aside to check his ID and then let him go.

07:20    Soldiers are now randomly stopping young men coming by foot from Surda to check their IDs.

07:22    A car comes from Ramallah with its driver as its only occupant. The Driver tries to convince the soldiers to let him through and stays around for about 20 minutes before he drives back towards Ramallah and comes through the checkpoint on foot.

07:24    The Jeep that had left returns to the checkpoint.  By now students going to Birzeit are starting to arrive from Ramallah. They are able to walk through without being checked.

07:30    A service taxi from Ramallah stops in front of the soldiers and is made to turn back.

07:34    A new jeep with 4 soldiers (reg. No. 610 780) arrives at the checkpoint.

07:55    The second jeep leaves down the road.

08:00    We leave. The soldiers are still letting everyone from Ramallah through on foot.

One of the soldiers came to talk to us. He was asking where we were from and what we were doing here. The he started discussing the situation and tried to explain to us why they “have to be there”. He stated that at this checkpoint they had caught 15 people who had been involved in attacks against Israel.  He was polite and did not ask us to leave or demand to see IDs or passports.