Israeli peace activists monitor military brutality at checkpoints in the West Bank 

Monday July 02, 2007 12:54 by Ameen Abu Warda - IMEMC News nisreen at imemc dot org

Israeli checkpoints litter the whole of the West Bank. They separate Palestinian areas and inflict much hardship on the residents that pass through them daily. The number of checkpoints in the West bank currently stands at around 528, a figure that does not include the various flying checkpoints that are established and disbanded at will.

At every checkpoint, humiliation of Palestinians is commonplace. Inspection procedures are often lengthy and invasive, leaving many Palestinians with no choice but to wait many hours until they are allowed to pass. In this sense, checkpoints form an effective means of continuous assault against the local population.

In addition to the human cost, checkpoints impose a terrible burden on the Palestinian economy. By restricting the free trade and flow of goods, checkpoints effectively cripple the local economy and prevent any meaningful hope of economic development.

The often-cited justification for the continued existence of the checkpoints rests on the assumption that they are a pre-requisite for Israeli security. While some Israeli profess that they feel more comfortable with the checkpoints, the volunteer group “Mashom Watch” views their very existence as a grave mistake.

Mashom Watch, meaning checkpoint watch, was formed by a group of Israeli and international peace activists, the hope being to monitor and prevent cases of humiliation and abuse against those who must pass through the structures on a daily basis.

Tal, a young Israeli volunteer, joined the group to challenge the Israeli government to change. He hopes for a new government that is eager to meaningfully work with the Palestinian Authority to achieve a lasting and just peace, adding that checkpoints represent the main barrier in the search for such a piece and are used to tighten the noose of occupation around the necks of Palestinians.

Mashom Watch is one of a number of Israeli organizations working to promote peace and human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories.

 

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