B'Tselem's Recommendations for Immediately Easing Palestinian Movement in the West Bank

June 2007

The defense establishment claims that infringement of the freedom of movement of Palestinians is essential to protecting the security of Israel 's citizens. B'Tselem maintains that many checkpoints are established for ulterior motives that have nothing to do with legitimate security needs. In other cases, restrictions justified by security are imposed in too sweeping a manner, or to a disproportionate degree. Set forth following is a list of restrictions on movement for which the security justification is difficult to understand, or which cause disproportionate harm to the Palestinian population.

Hebron District

Whole blocks of villages are severed from Hebron by physical obstructions. Removal of these obstructions and opening of the roads will significantly shorten travel time to and from the city.

1. Removing the boulders blocking the entrance to a-Dahiriya

Boulders have been placed at the intersection of the access road linking a-Dahiriya to Route 60. This obstruction prevents direct access by car from all the villages near a-Dahiriya (Duma, Qorza, Khirbat al-Hadab, and 'Anab al-Kabir) to the main road of the southern West Bank . Residents of these villages now have to travel on a long and slower bypass road that runs between the villages lying west of Route 60, which takes them to Dura, and then continue on to Hebron .

Given that travel is unrestricted on both sides of the obstruction, the security purpose served by the obstruction is questionable, especially when compared with the nuisance it causes the residents of the area. Its removal would ease passage of residents traveling to the north, while not affecting security at all.

2. Removing the boulders blocking the entrance to a-Samu'

Boulders have blocked the entrance to the village of a-'Samu' from Route 60 for a long time. Residents of the village and of neighboring villages traveling to Hebron and to the north have to use an alternate route that runs through Yatta, the al-Fawwar refugee camp, and Dura. This road is long and winding and is not a fit substitute for the main road. Removal of the obstruction would enable the residents to use Route 60 and thereby gain more rapid, easier, and safer access to Hebron .

3. Removing the concrete blocks blocking the southern entrance to Hebron, near Beit Hagai

The concrete-block obstruction placed at the southern exit of Hebron prevents direct access to Route 60 and forces the residents to take a bypass road that runs via Dura and connects with Route 60 further south, near the al-Fawwar refugee camp intersection.

Travel along the road in this area is not prohibited and Palestinians use the road, so the security purpose of the obstruction is unclear. Its removal would significantly shorten travel time to and from Hebron .

4. Removing the obstructions preventing travel between Bani Na'im and Hebron

Obstructions placed along Route 60 in the area between Bani Na'im and Hebron prevent residents of the villages lying to the east to reach the road by car, so they have to use a bypass road that runs via the villages Ash-Shuyukh, Sa'ir and Halhul, which significantly lengthens the trip to Hebron. Travel along the road in this area is not prohibited, and Palestinian vehicles use it, so the security objective of these obstructions is unclear. Removal of the obstructions would enable direct and rapid movement between the villages east of the road, near Bani Na'im, to Hebron.

Jericho District

5. Granting freedom of access to the Dead Sea

For several months, the checkpoint operated on and off at the Bet Haarava intersection has prevented Palestinian residents not holding a permit to enter Israel (except for those working in settlements in the area) from continuing their journey southward, toward the northern part of the Dead Sea . The checkpoint serves no security function, given that entry into Israel north of 'Ein Gedi is controlled by another checkpoint.

The Dead Sea area was the last vacation refuge of Palestinians from the West Bank , many of whom used to go there to hike and for recreation on weekends or for vacation. The 'Ein Fashha Nature Reserve was one of the popular sites visited by West Bank Palestinian families. Testimonies given by soldiers to B'Tselem and other organizations indicate that the checkpoint was set up to enable Jews seeking recreation to do so in a place that does not have Palestinians.

Bethlehem District

6. Opening the road near Qedar to Palestinian vehicles

The road running from the south of the West Bank to the north starts from Beit Sahur, near Bethlehem, passed by the entrances of the settlements Qedar and Ma'ale Adumim, and continues to the Qalandiya checkpoint, north of Jerusalem. However, since the beginning of the intifada, the part of the road north of the Container checkpoint, which runs to Ma'ale Adumim, has been closed to Palestinian travel. About three years ago, an alternate road was built for residents of the Qedar settlement, who no longer use the old road. Despite this, Palestinian travel is still not allowed. Now, no cars use the road, and Palestinian vehicles traveling north of the Container checkpoint are still directed to the narrow and defective roads running through a-Sawahrah a-Sharqiya, Abu Dis, and al-'Ezariya.

Ramallah District

7. Opening the Beit El road (Route 466) to residents of Beitin and 'Ein Yabrud and opening the DCO checkpoint to residents who are not VIPs

Until the beginning of the intifada, all movement of vehicles wanting to reach Ramallah was channeled from the area east of Route 466, which leads from Route 60, to one of the main entrances to the city, referred to as the "City Inn" intersection. However, since Route 466 also leads to the Beit El settlement, the IDF has prohibited Palestinians from using the road. The prohibition was enforced by a staffed checkpoint near the "City Inn" intersection, preventing Palestinian traffic in both directions. The prohibition does not apply to ambulances and vehicles bearing VIP identification. North of the road, dirt piles, located no more than 200 meters from the checkpoint, block travel. This prohibition especially harms residents of Burka, Beitin, and 'Ein Yabrud, which lie east of Ramallah. Residents of these villages now have to travel to Ramallah on alternate roads, greatly extending their travel time.

8. Opening of the road from Kharbatha Bani Harith to Ras Karkar

The boulders placed at the exit from Kharbatha Bani Harith in the direction of Ras Karkar (the "Post Intersection") prevent direct access of residents of the nearby villages (Kharbatha, Deir Qadis, Ni'lin) eastward, in the direction of Ras Karkar and Ramallah. Among other things, the obstruction severs the villages in the area, which have close ties, from each other. The residents have to go via bypass roads that lengthen the journey but ultimately reach the part of the road to which the obstruction blocks access (Route 463), such that the obstruction lacks any security benefit.

9. Removal of the Jaba' checkpoint between Qalandiya and Hizma

The Jaba' checkpoint, which is situated on the road leading into Ramallah from the south was first used as a temporary flying checkpoint. In recent months, it has become permanent. The soldiers at the checkpoint check the vehicles entering Ramallah and cause great delay. On exiting the city, the vehicles are checked at the Qalandiya checkpoint. The security benefit from checking Palestinians entering the city is highly questionable.

Salfit District

10. Opening the gate blocking entry to Brukin and Kafr a-Dik

The "Elimelech" Route, which links the villages of Brukin and Kafr a-Dik with the new Trans-Samaria Highway (Route 5) is permitted, at least according to declarations of Israeli officials, to Palestinian movement. However, entry to the road is blocked by a closed iron gate. The army's statement that the road is not closed to Palestinians infers that the defense establishment does not contend that Palestinian travel on the road constitutes a security threat, and there is therefore no reason not to open the gate.

Nablus District

11. Renewal of Palestinian travel on the Elon Moreh road

The road leading from the Huwara checkpoint to the Itamar and Elon Moreh settlements, referred to as the " Madison Route ," has been prohibited to Palestinian travel since the beginning of the intifada. The closing of the road apparently is intended to ensure the safe travel of residents of the settlements and their guests. Palestinians are even forbidden to cross the road by vehicle.

The prohibition on travel isolates the more than 14,000 residents of Beit Furik and Beit Dajan, and forces them to cross through the Nablus checkpoints on every trip in the West Bank – regardless of destination.

Thus, whenever Palestinians want to travel to the center or south of the West Bank, they must cross the road by foot, cross the Beit Furik checkpoint at the entrance to Nablus , and then cross through the Huwara checkpoint on their way south from Nablus . Even if they want to visit the nearby villages – Sallem, Deir al-Hatab, and 'Azmut, which lie northeast of Nablus – the residents of Beit Furik and Beit Dajan have to make a big circuit by way of Nablus.

12. Opening of Route 60 at the place the road is blocked near Shavey Shomeron

East of the Shavey Shomeron settlement lies a checkpoint where soldiers almost totally block movement from the village of Deir Sharaf northward toward Jenin and the other villages and towns on the way there. The road was apparently closed because of construction of the wall east of the army base and the settlement, but the construction ended some time ago, and the wall exists. However, the road remains closed. As a result, dozens of kilometers are added to Palestinian travel, with no security need being served.

13. Opening of the road between Nablus and 'Asira a-Shamaliya

The road between Nablus and 'Asira a-Shamaliya has had, since December 2006, a staffed checkpoint that Palestinians are not allowed to cross. Ambulances and vehicles of international organizations are allowed to pass through the checkpoint. In the past, this road was the main thoroughfare between Nablus and the villages lying to its north. Now, the residents must travel longer distances and enter Nablus via the al-Bidan checkpoint. Given that the 'Asira a-Shamaliya checkpoint is permanently staffed, while the al-Bidan checkpoint is staffed off and on and allows Palestinians almost free entry into the city, it is especially unclear why the 'Asira a-Shamaliya checkpoint remains operational.

14. Reconsideration of the necessity for the al-Bidan checkpoint

The al-Bidan checkpoint lies on the main access route to Nablus from the Jordan Valley and Tubas. As mentioned above, this checkpoint is staffed on and off, which raises doubts about the security need for it. When it is staffed, it creates long delays when entering or leaving the city.

15. Removal of two checkpoints on the Yizhar road

On Route 60, in the section between the Einav checkpoint and the Huwara checkpoint, Israel frequently sets up flying checkpoints – one at the Jit intersection and the other at the intersection south of the Huwara intersection. The necessity for these checkpoints is questionable given that every Palestinian vehicle traveling along the road is checked, both at the Tapuah checkpoint and at the 'Anabta checkpoint – the two checkpoints that demarcate that section of the road.

If the purpose of the flying checkpoints is to prevent uncontrolled entry into the Yizhar settlement, which lies near the road, it is possible to place a checkpoint at the entrance to the settlement itself (which also has a guarded entrance) and check only the vehicles wanting to enter.