Middle East Issues - Israeli Checkpoint

Bob's Definition:
Checkpoints serve no security purpose that I can see. You can always get around them. It might take many hours, and you might have to go through fields and back roads, but it can be done. Checkpoints do stop a lot of things. They stop farmers from getting their produce to market. They stop students from getting to their university. And they stop patients from getting to the hospital. There are many stories of people dying at checkpoints. Checkpoints are also places of humiliation for Palestinians. They may have to strip down to their underwear to pass. They may hold valid papers and be refused passage. The may have to wait under the Middle East sun for hours until a decision is made regarding their passage. A student of mine had his valid ID ripped up in front of his face. I have personally witnessed soldiers kicking and punching Palestinian men lying facedown on the dirt ground. The soldiers manning the checkpoints are usually very young and may not always exercise good judgment.

A Better Definition from Americans for Middle East Understanding:
Checkpoint. A barrier built by the Israeli Defense Forces or Border Police to limit the movement of Palestinians who lack necessary permits. Normally, Israeli citizens and foreigners move through the checkpoints without being stopped. Palestinians with permits frequently experience extreme delays and humiliation at these barriers. On occasions, deaths have occurred at checkpoints when individuals, including pregnant women in labor, have been unable to reach hospitals. Often farm produce, especially from Gaza, has spoiled at checkpoints due to delays of up to several days.

Soldier harasses old lady (hidden by soldier in foreground) at Bethlehem Checkpoint.

Tank dwarfs car at the Bethlehem Checkpoint.

Israeli soldiers at a temporary checkpoint stop two Bethlehem University students from returning home to Hebron.