International Checkpoint Watch - Daily Observations

Date:  January 31, 2002                        Time:  8:45-14:45                                                        
Place Observed:  Bethlehem Checkpoint

Report on the detention of approximately 120 Palestinian men ages between 17 and 60:

We circumnavigated the checkpoint by walking through Tantur. It was approximately 8.45am.

A little way up the rocky path from the area where service and taxis usually wait 3 soldiers had been stationed, 2 male and 1 female. They had stopped a Palestinian who had been walking ahead of us and were questioning him. We passed by and stopped about 30 feet ahead. In addition to the questioning they started to body search him. They appeared to be treating him roughly. I took out my camera and walked towards them, taking photos. The female soldier said something in Hebrew. When they saw us approach they quickly finished their search and the female soldier again said something in Hebrew. I replied that I only speak English and am press and continued taking pictures. She then said, "No photos, no photos".  At this point they let him go and we waited for him to walk past us before we moved.

We spoke to him briefly, to ask if he was ok. He was ok but appeared to be shaken by his experience.

All the taxis that usually wait on the road were not there and a great many people, mainly men, were waiting on the road. Getting on to the road, I could see that checkpoint had been closed, no cars or people were passing though, so I walked up toward the soldiers to inquire as to what was happening.

As I walked up the road some soldiers came over and forced the waiting men to line up in single file. Body searches of each man were then conducted. I witnessed one soldier who was behaving roughly with the men. I saw him kick one man's bag when demanding he open it (it was a flimsy plastic carrier bag) and yanking open coats and jackets. He was certainly more hostile than the others.

After the body searches had been conducted the men were led farther up the road toward the checkpoint.  The men were then made to sit on the pavement in double file, directly opposite the guard post. There were approximately 120 men detained. There was a huge presence of personnel, both police and military, including plain clothes officers.

A few photographers had turned up and were recording the scene. I started to speak to various soldiers about the situation and ask why were the men being kept there and how long would it be before the men would be released.  They stated that they were investigating a shooting that took place earlier that morning and that all the men needed to be checked. Their ID cards were then confiscated. 

Two men and a woman appeared and walked pass the soldiers and police to one of the more senior looking officers, some solider shouted at them to stop but the men ignored them. The woman, who was nervous, stopped by me, unsure of whether to proceed. I told her to carry on walking but she was still unsure so I said walk with me and took her to where her friends were. I chatted with her and it transpired that she was on her way to work at Tantur when she was stopped by the 3 soldiers I had come across earlier. She was obviously distressed as she related her experience. The soldiers abused her verbally, very badly. She said she had never, ever been spoken to like that in her life and what they had said was disgusting. I asked her what language they used and she said Arabic. She asked them why they were saying these things to her but it only made them worse and increase their harassment toward her. The 2 men who she was with were her colleagues from Tantur and they had come with her to report the incident to a commanding Israeli officer.

I kept speaking to the soldiers and said that they should at least give the men water and not keep them in the blazing sun. I called the Israeli District Command Office (DCO) in Bethlehem to report this incident and the treatment of the men. I was informed by the DCO that the soldiers were following procedure. I conceded that they may have procedures to follow however I felt that the treatment the men were receiving was arbitrary and unnecessary. I had witnessed all the men being body searched and checked and I said that they should be allowed to leave. I also told him that the men were being kept in direct sun and that they should be treated properly. I told him that I felt the treatment was deliberate humiliation, which the DCO representative did not agree with.

I was then astonished to see soldiers bring over large water cans and mugs and proceed to offer water to those who wanted it. They then brought bread and yoghurt to give the men. I kept complaining to the soldiers that the men should be kept in the shade and after a while they did start to move the men in small groups into the olive grove behind the wall lining the road.

During this time men were being taken off individually or in pairs and were being searched again, this time by the plain clothes personnel. I witnessed 2 men being tested forensically. Then, once the checks had been conducted, they were made to stand by the wall on the opposite side of the road to the guard post, in the sun and away from the rest of the group. I complained again that they should at least wait in the shade and one soldier started to move them but he was stopped by another. He asked me to wait and then came back to say that his commander wouldn't let him move them yet but the Palestinians would be allowed to use toilet facilities if they wanted to.

The group of detainees being left in the sun was increasing in size as those who had been questioned were directed to wait there. Where the forensic testing was being conducted, I noticed 2 youth had been handcuffed. One was put in to the back of a jeep and the other in a car and were driven off.

After this, the majority of the Israeli forces left and only the usual checkpoint complement remained. The checkpoint was reopened and both vehicles and pedestrians were being allowed through in both directions. Pedestrians had been allowed though earlier whilst the men were being searched and questioned. Before the checkpoint had been opened 2 Israeli buses with a few Orthodox Jews were allowed through.

There were still 120 Palestinians being detained and it was now approximately 12.30pm. The soldiers brought more bread for the men and at last, after repeated requests to move them, they were taken to the shade. I kept asking how long would it take before the men would be released and each time I was told "when they have been checked."

After a while one soldier came to the group with some ID cards, handed them back and released them. There were no more than about 20 men allowed to leave. I kept asking when the others would be released and whoever I asked repeated the line of when they have been checked. I went to the guard post to see what was happening from time to time and one soldier was on the telephone reading out each man's name and ID number. Another soldier explained the procedure; they have to telephone through the name and ID number of each detainee and then wait for confirmation that they can be released. It took well over half an hour for the list to be given.

A senior officer had arrived to Bethlehem checkpoint, Major General Yacov Gannoth, Chief Commander of the Border Guard. I chatted briefly to his aide who spoke English. They said that they had come to check things and that the men would not be detained longer than necessary. I said that they already had been and that they should be released now. After they left I went back to the guard post and asked them how long the men would have to wait; I was told 20 minutes, maybe half an hour. I told them I would call Maj. Gen. Gannoth back if they weren’t released quickly as he had given his assurance that the men would be released within 30 minutes. They asked me not to bother him!

Timing them I went back after 20 minutes to ask what was happening. One of the men asked me if I would like him to call to find out.  Then one of the other soldiers went over to the detainees, the Palestinians gathered around the Israeli soldier and the soldier explained to them what was happening.  After about 15 minutes or so the call came through that all the men could be released. I waited to ensure that each man did indeed receive his ID and was let free without further harassment. The time was 2.45pm.