International Checkpoint Watch - Daily Observations

Date:      20/08/01                                                  Time: 7:50 to 9:10

Place Observed: Surda Checkpoint

Number of Soldiers Present: 3 soldiers outside, 1 inside the Jeep

Soldiers Names, ID #’s, License Plate #’s, Etc: 1 jeep number 610 765

Events Witnessed: We arrived shortly before 8:00 a.m. At that time, the checkpoint was very crowded. Walking up the curve of Surda, we heard some shootings that we thought were coming from the hill above. The soldiers remained very quiet. We asked people what was going on.  We were told that the shootings were coming from Jalazon Refugee Camp.

We stood opposite the soldiers. We could see that they were calm and civil. The checkpoint was completely blocked on the way to Birzeit from Ramallah. Only pedestrians were allowed to cross. On the other side (from Birzeit to Ramallah), the cars were allowed to pass after personal ID check of the people inside.

Unlike two days ago, UN vehicles were allowed to go through without any trouble today.

8:15 a.m: A truck full of chickens is prevented from going on its way to Birzeit. We asked for an explanation. First reaction of the soldiers was “ you do not interfere! Your job is to observe only!”  Finally, they said that, according to their orders, they were not allowed to let trucks of chicken to go through. “Only flowers can pass!” they said.

8:25 a.m: A green-plated car (Palestinian plates) was stopped on the way to Birzeit. The driver and two young men got of and started a very animated discussion with the soldiers. In fact, the trunk of the car was full of bread and the driver said that two similar cars were on their way to deliver bread. But the bread, like the chicken, is forbidden through the checkpoint. Once again, we said to the soldiers “the flowers are allowed, but not the bread?” leading them to face the non-sense of the situation.  The driver was finally permitted to call a friend of his who came with a small truck. All the bread was loaded in the second truck that was allowed to go to Birzeit.