International Checkpoint Watch - Daily Observations

Date:      February 01, 2002                                  Time:  15:30 - 17:00                          
Place Observed:  Surda

Number of Soldiers Present:  Initially four soldiers and one jeep at checkpoint.  Later eight soldiers, two military jeeps, and two police jeeps with at least four police.

Soldiers Names, ID #’s, License Plate #’s, Etc:  Military jeeps #s 669 373 and 669 509

Police jeeps license #s 21383 and 22412

Events Witnessed:

15:30- Soldier pulls handbrake of empty car to move it.  The car rolls back and hits the dirt cliff behind it, smashing the back of the car.  The owner returns shortly thereafter and drives the car away.

16:10- Military jeep # 669 509 arrives from direction of Bet El and drives past checkpoint toward Surda and parks at the top of the hill.  It blocks all pedestrian and vehicle traffic.  Pedestrians immediately begin walking around soldiers through the adjacent fields.  Upon questioninng by the monitors, one soldier says they found a bomb in a car, another says they found a stolen car.  When monitor asks more questions the soldier who appears to be in charge pushes his colleague back, away from us. 

16:25-  Jeep # 669 373 and police jeeps block an ambulance from proceding toward Ramallah. 

16:28-  Jeep # 669 373 and police jeeps begin to allow vehicle traffic to pass.