- "I am convinced that the checkpoints constitute
a breeding ground for hatred for Israel, and harm an innocent population
in an inhumane manner."
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- Two weeks ago, together with my friend Brigadier General
(res.) Yitzhak Elron, I visited 13 Israel Defense Forces checkpoints in
Judea and Samaria, near the cities of Nablus, Tul Karm and Qalqilyah.
-
- The visit was conducted at the initiative of B'Tselem,
and I must point out that the two people from B'Tselem who accompanied
us throughout the visit did not try to influence us in any way. We saw
and we formed impressions. And the impressions were very harsh.
-
- The Palestinians arrive at one checkpoint by car, and
there they have to get out in order to cross over by foot to the next checkpoint
on the road. The distances are not small, sometimes several kilometers.
-
- At one checkpoint we met four mothers with eight blind
children aged 4-5 who were walking to Nablus for medical treatment. It
was a hair-raising sight to see the little blind children marching along
led by the women.
-
- Some of the drivers of trucks or taxis commit crimes
such as the attempt to bypass a route or a path. They are punished by the
commander of the checkpoint, some 18-year-old soldier, who decides for
how long to delay the vehicle. The wait can continue from four to 24 hours,
or more. It's up to the checkpoint commander.
-
- We came across a convoy of 10 trucks driven by Israeli
Arabs, who were bringing food to Nablus. A few kilometers before Nablus
they were suddenly stopped, and told that entry into the city was forbidden.
From the opposite direction came 10 trucks from Nablus in order to receive
the food. They were stopped about 200 meters from the convoy coming from
Israel. The local commander prohibited the transfer of the food. How long
would the two convoys remain there - unknown.
-
- One of the drivers told us that he had been waiting near
the checkpoint for over 24 hours. The situation repeated itself with the
taxi drivers. Suddenly, without any explanation, they were forbidden to
continue on their way, and were not told when they would be allowed to
do so. In addition, they were forbidden to park in the place where they
had been stopped, and were instructed to leave, without any explanation.
-
- At most of the checkpoints there are no Arabic-speaking
soldiers. As we know, a substantial percentage of Palestinians don't speak
Hebrew, and of course the lack of communication creates problems. The connection
between our soldiers and the population is expressed mainly in the giving
of orders. There is no personal and human relationship, the soldiers don't
talk to them and of course don't smile.
-
- We must change the treatment of the Palestinian population.
We must invest as much as possible in briefing the soldiers. They also
look sloppy, dressed in overalls without insignia and wearing shoes that
haven't been polished for a long time.
-
- At the same time, I had the impression that the soldiers
have no protection in the area of the checkpoint. Although they wear flak
jackets, they can be fired on without being able to defend themselves.
The checkpoints are dominated by the surrounding hills, which are not held
by IDF soldiers.
-
- I have no doubt that our soldiers are wonderful young
people and excellent fighters. However, I am convinced that we are doing
them an injustice by placing them in a difficult and sometimes impossible
situation. They are liable to be discharged from their military service
with difficult emotional baggage that may affect their personality development
in the future.
-
- In summary: I am doubtful whether the checkpoints have
in fact prevented the passage of a terrorist or of weapons. Every checkpoint
can be bypassed. I have the impression that the only purpose of the checkpoints
is to make things hard for the Palestinian population. I am convinced that
the checkpoints constitute a breeding ground for hatred for Israel, and
harm an innocent population in an inhumane manner.
-
- During the course of our tour of the checkpoints, we
also saw the separation fence. In principle, I am in favor of a fence within
the boundaries of the Green Line. The present route, which cuts Palestinian
villages in half, is causing an additional injustice to the population
and is intensifying the hatred towards us.
-
- All in all, for the sake of the Palestinians, but mainly
for our own sake, the faster we end the occupation and leave the territories,
the better for us. I am writing this because it is impossible to stand
by and remain silent.
-
- - The writer was a major general in the IDF and a mayor
of Tel Aviv.
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- http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/379379.html
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