The
crossings and IDF checkpoints in Judea and Samaria have been the source
of much confusion and debate worldwide. Crossings and checkpoints,
while both provide important security benefits, are different. Crossings
are facilities used by Palestinians to enter from Judea and Samaria
into other regions of Israel. Checkpoints, on the other hand, operate
during times of heightened security risk to prevent terrorists from
executing their plans to harm civilians. The international media have
often portrayed these security measures as a way to restrict
Palestinians' freedom of movement and abuse civil rights. They have
occasionally been referred to as ‘inhumane’. Despite attention on the
region, most facts about the crossings and checkpoints are widely
unknown. How many checkpoints are still active? Just how successful are
they in preventing terror attacks? What type of security checks occur?
Are Palestinians able to move freely? Today, the reality is far from
what you may have heard.
How many crossings and checkpoints are there today?
There
are some 15 crossings between Judea and Samaria and other parts of
Israel. Some are used for the passage of people, others for the passage
of goods. In addition to these crossings, 12 checkpoints are placed
strategically throughout Israel’s Central Command region, and operate in
time of need in light of security considerations.
Checkpoints - Preventing terror, saving lives
Capt.
Barak Raz, spokesperson for the Judea and Samaria Division, describes
the situation in Judea and Samaria as relatively stable.
"Today, we take into account incidents such as throwing stones, which can be fatal, and we also have the resources to improve road safety. Ten years ago, nobody was keeping track of all this because there was a terror attack every week."
Last
year marked the first year since 1973 in which no Israelis were killed
in Judea and Samaria. Compare this to 2002, in which 47 terror attacks left 452 Israeli civilians dead.
Checkpoints
have been used as a method to filter out and prevent terror attacks
before would-be Palestinian attackers have a chance to enter Israel. As a
result of such insidious methods as female suicide bombers hiding explosives under
their clothing and the use of ambulances to conceal and transport
terrorist weapons, routine checks have been intensified at all types of
crossings.
The number of terror attacks has fallen drastically since the construction of the security fence in 2006.
The
IDF has withdrawn the majority of its checkpoints in Judea and Samaria
in a step towards beginning a positive cycle, Capt. Raz explains:
"The Palestinians have realized that the path of terror led them nowhere. We can explain this relative calm in three ways: the reduction of military presence during routine security tasks, an effective counter-terrorism strategy, and a clear economic incentive for Palestinians to maintain the calm. By reducing the number of checkpoints, we can provide much more freedom of movement, therefore improving the economic conditions and ultimately strengthening the security situation."
From 40 to 12 checkpoints
The
number of checkpoints in the Central Command went from 40 in July 2008
to just 12 in October 2012. Furthermore, these checkpoints are only used
some of the time and the frequency of checks is dependent on the
security threat at the time.
Barak
Raz explains that the relative calm in the region has been brought
about by the success of security measures which routinely prevent
attempted attacks.
"Despite the calm, the willingness to carry out terror attacks is still present, but we are able to counter them better. This may seem paradoxical since there are fewer checkpoints. However, we use the 12 points as soon as we receive the warning of an imminent threat. Every vehicle at each location is then checked. In approximately thirty minutes, we stop the suspects and the situation returns to normal."
Freedom of Movement
Separate
roads are used to enter Palestinian and Israeli communities. It is
important to remember that Israeli vehicles are prohibited from entering
roads leading to Area “A” (the area under full civil and security
control of the Palestinian Authority) just as Palestinian vehicles are
not permitted to leave Judea and Samaria in order to enter into Israel.
The
main roads linking Palestinian cities, including Route 60, are freely
accessible and free of security controls. A Palestinian civilian can
travel from Jenin to Bethlehem without encountering a single military
checkpoint.
Some
people who have traveled the roads in Judea and Samaria and seen yellow
barriers on the side of the road have mistaken them for checkpoints.
Capt. Raz explains the surprising truth behind these barriers: they are
used to save Palestinian lives.
"Today we face more and more problems with road safety. Many residents of Palestinian villages try to take shortcuts and enter onto main roadsfrom small dirt roads beside of their homes," Capt. Raz explains. "This is dangerous for both Israeli and Palestinian drivers. Road accidents have become the leading cause of death among Palestinians in Judea and Samaria. To counter this, we installed the yellow barriers to restrict access [to the main roads] to other vehicles."
Crossings: 9.4 million entries in 2012
Crossings
are the main points of entry between Judea and Samaria and other parts
of Israel. Ceratin crossings – such as Bituniya – are intended for the
inspection and transfer of goods.
There
are also crossings intended for the passage of Palestinian civilians
such as those at Kalandia and Hashmonaim. These crossings have received
much criticism for alleged violations of human rights. Is this criticism
justified?
Who is allowed to enter and who is not?
Every
Palestinian wishing to visit relatives or work inside Israel must
contact the office of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the
Territories (COGAT).
"Our
role is to ensure the safety of every Palestinian civilian, that he or
she has freedom of movement and economic access," says Maj. Amos
Zuaretz, Head of crossings in COGAT.
Obtaining
an entry permit is a simple two-step process. Palestinians must first
obtain a biometric card at any of the 31 COGAT offices in Judea and
Samaria. The applicant receives the card – designed to ease waiting
times at crossings – five minutes after filling out the form.
Next,
one wishing to obtain permission to cross must apply to a Palestinian
Authority liaison officer who makes contact with the Israeli
authorities. The vast majority of applications are processed and
approved within 24 hours.
There
are 74 types of authorization, which vary according to the type of
activity and permit duration. The two most requested permits are
humanitarian permits and commercial permits.
What is the procedure at crossings once authorization is approved?
This
is actually quite straightforward and would be familiar to anyone who
has entered any airport in the world. Each person must first pass
through a metal detector and pass their bags through a scanner, just as
every Israeli citizen or tourist must at any of Israel’s train stations.
At this stage, there is no physical contact with soldiers. Most
Palestinians already know the procedure. Soldiers oversee everything
from an isolated control room and communicate via intercom.
After
that, each person’s card is reviewed by a COGAT official who takes a
digital fingerprint scan. Lastly, a soldier verifies that the permit is
in order and authorizes entry.
"In
2012, there were 9.4 million entries at all crossings combined. This
figure has been rising steadily since 2010," says Maj. Zuaretz.
When
that person returns home later on, he/she simply passes his/her
magnetic card through a scanner and walks through a turnstile.
If
all goes well, there is no actual contact between Palestinians and
Israeli soldiers. The whole procedure takes five minutes once started.
However, some crossings are widely used and lines can be long. An
average of 15 thousand people use the Kalandia crossing each day and the
majority of those people cross in the morning. In comparison, about 35
thousand individuals go through Ben Gurion International Airport every
day. It is not uncommon to see relatively long lines like those at
crossings in international airports.
475 Attempts to Smuggle Weapons
The
various crossings and checkpoints have proven to be effective barriers
against weapons smuggling and the crossing of illegal workers. In 2012,
the Military Police Corps recorded a total of 475 attempts to smuggle
weapons into Israel and 1,147 illegal attempts to enter Israel with
forged ID cards. The Military Police and officers from the Ministry of
Defense responsible for crossings have thwarted many attempted attacks
and arrested dozens of people in possession of explosives. Most
recently, on April 30, 2013, a 31-year-old Israeli civilian was stabbed
to death at Tapuah Junction – the intersection of routes 60 and 505.
Although
the situation is better than in the past, the ongoing presence of these
checkpoints remains necessary. The proof is in the numbers.
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