The Israeli occupation forces have been obstructing vehicular and pedestrian travel in most parts of the West Bank and by all means. They have erected a large number of barriers that made travel physically impossible and pedestrian crossing dangerous.
In Beit Rima, northwest of Ramallah district, Israeli soldiers at the checkpoint prohibit people from crossing the checkpoints although they have permits. Moreover, the checkpoints are now causing long delays to Palestinians who are headed to their work, schools or universities. Daily, hundreds of young men climb walls and hills to avoid checkpoints. See Photo 1 & Photo 2 &
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At Surda checkpoint, the Israeli soldiers are restricting the movement of Palestinian civilians and without any reason stop them for hours in a row to check their identity card numbers. The checkpoint looks like an L-shaped and uphill road which stretches hundreds of meters from the northern entrance of Ramallah to the village of Surda. It is marked by concrete blocks on both sides blocks and barring access to cars as well. See Photo of Surda checkpoint
Ramallah governorate has acquired a de facto centrality by acting as an interim capital. A major part of the Palestinian public sector, as well as the private sector, is centered in Ramallah. Moreover, BirZeit university is one of the top universities in Ramallah and it attracts a sizeable portion of Palestine's academic activity. This blockade has prevented many people, most of whom are students, teachers and employees from reaching their destinations. Some people have been beaten, humiliated, forced to sit on dirt mud and then were released. The Israeli practices and ill treatment against Palestinians on checkpoints have never been justified. The long waiting at checkpoints disrupt the normal daily life of Palestinian citizens and thousands of Palestinian patients and medical staff are sometimes prevented from reaching hospitals, work, schools and universities. Patients and handicaps have to be carried on wheel chairs or donkeys as even ambulances are most of the times not allowed to cross.
The transport of certain goods has also suffered delays and obstruction. Businesses in Ramallah are beginning to run out of stocks while their financial obligations pile up. This centrality has meant that non-governmental organizations, as well as international organizations, have established their headquarters Ramallah form the heart of the West Bank.
The number of permanent checkpoints in Ramallah governorate is 10 and the number of road blocks exist in the governorate is 19 which are causing suffering and humiliation to 270.000 Palestinian residents. See Map below: :
The Israeli Government realizes that force will not bring any kind of agreement. Neither checkpoints nor blockades will force the Palestinians into giving up their legitimate right to live in their land with freedom and dignity. Their removal would help restore some level of freedom of movement throughout the districts where thousands of Palestinians are prevented from reaching their jobs and schools or visiting relatives.
Prepared by:
The Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem
