International Checkpoint Watch - Daily Observations

Date:            01/09/01                                  Time:  18:25 - 19:15

Place Observed:  Atara

Number of Soldiers Present:  At least three, at one point at least 8.

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

Jeep # 610 102

APC # 753 741

Events Witnessed:

18:25-  A car with only the driver is being asked to turn back to Birzeit.  Some cars are being let through without checking neither ID nor car.

18:35-  Three men come walking from Birzeit and get their ID’s checked for a couple of minutes before they are allowed to pass.

Generally the cars are given a quick ID check and a quick check of the car before being let through.

18:45-  Jeep # 610 102 comes up to the checkpoint.  They then drive up to us and open the door.  They ask who we are and what we are doing and we tell them ICW etc.  They inform us that it is dangerous to be there because of shooting last night and also ask us how much longer we intend to stay there.

18:55-  APC # 753 741 comes up from the bypass-road with at least five soldiers on top of it.  After five minutes it crosses the bridge and goes towards Attara.

19:00-  The soldiers in the jeep drive up to us again and tells us not to talk to the soldiers because they won’t tell us anything anyway.  We see a jeep go up the hill to Birzeit.

19:15-  We leave because we decided we didn’t feel safe.  We agreed that is would not be a good idea to stay there and get stuck with the Israeli soldiers in case someone should start shooting.