International Checkpoint Watch - Daily Observations

Date:  15/08/01              Time: 08:15 to 09:30     

Place Observed: Surda Checkpoint

Number of Soldiers Present: 5 soldiers outside, 1 inside the Jeep

Soldiers Names, ID #’s, License Plate #’s, Etc: 1 jeep

Events Witnessed:

A cement wall partially blocks the road and a small field observation post (tower) overlooks the checkpoint.

08:15    The soldiers appear calm. They admit to having orders not to allow any cars to leave Ramallah. On the Birzeit side of the checkpoint there is a large traffic jam. The soldiers are checking both individuals IDs and search the cars.  One car is permitted to pass approximately every three minutes.

08:20    A Palestinian youth passing through the checkpoint on foot is stopped.  His ID is taken by the soldier in the jeep, and the jeep drives away down the road.  Meanwhile, the youth is asked to sit by the cement wall. We attempt to approach him to talk, but the soldiers prevent us from doing so. When we ask why the young man is obliged to sit out in the sun, the commander says to us that he is not “obliged” to sit, but that he could stand up if he wants to.   When we suggest that this is humiliating for the young man the commander says, with a smile on his face, “Everything we do is humiliating.”

08:25     The IDs of all men with beards are checked. The soldiers refuse to answer our questions saying, “Do your work and I’ll do mine.”

A UN van is not allowed to pass but does not leave the checkpoint.  We approach the passengers inside the van and ask what they are doing there; they say that they come every day and every day the soldiers subject them to the same procedure. They have to wait for more than one hour before the soldiers get the authorization from Bet El to let them through.

08:30    Two soldiers joke with young Palestinians walking through the checkpoint.

08:40    We tell the soldiers that the man who has been waiting for his ID has been here for more than 20 minutes and therefore he can be considered as a “ detainee.”  The soldiers reply that this is not the case.  According to them it is just normal procedure and, as the man “may be a terrorist,” checking takes more time.  One soldier gives some water to the man.

Cars are permitted to pass into Ramallah after passengers IDs are checked.

08:55    The detainee is allowed to sit in the shade under a tree until his ID is returned.

09:00    The jeep comes back and a new soldier gets out. The detainee is given his ID back and released.

09:15     As we leave, the checks for cars going to Ramallah seem to ease a little.  However no cars trying to exit Ramallah are permitted to pass the checkpoint.  Consequently people are forced to get out and walk.