Qalandiya Checkpoint [ Map ]

Situated to the north of Jerusalem, 3 km south of Ramallah. The checkpoint cuts off the Palestinian Jerusalem suburbs of Kafr 'Aqab, Semiramis and Qalandiya, which are north of the checkpoint, from the rest of Jerusalem. The residents of these three suburbs hold blue Jerusalem IDs and pay Jerusalem municipal taxes. The checkpoint itself consists of a strip of road about 150 meters long, divided into four traffic lanes and one pedestrian lane. Almost no traffic, except for trucks bearing basic goods to the northern suburbs, is permitted to pass.

Ar-Ram Checkpoint [ Map ]

is a busy checkpoint to the south of Qalandiya manned by Border Police. Both these checkpoints form an absurd situation whereby Jerusalem residents must cross two checkpoints to reach Jerusalem.

Surda Checkpoint [ Map ]

Surda checkpoint is a 1 1/2 km long blocked road that leads from Ramallah to Bir Zeit university. The road is used by Palestinians only. The blockades prevent motor traffic between Bir Zeit, Ramallah and the dozen villages between them. Thousands of people use the road daily and are forced to walk the long distance between the blockades.

Bethlehem (Checkpoint 300) and environs [ Map ]

Bethlehem checkpoint is a major boundary between former Area A and Jerusalem. Situated to the south of the city, it is bounded to the east by a shallow, barren valley and to the west by the Tantur Ecumenical Institute. Until April 2002, both the valley and the Institute were used by Palestinians from all over the southern West Bank as “bypass” routes. As of April 2002 the checkpoint is virtually deserted. For this reason, observers have begun to tour the area around this checkpoint, accessed via the so-called Tunnel Road (Route 60) to the west (for use by Israelis only). Beyond this road lies the western entrance to Bethlehem, through the village Al-Khadr.

Abu-Dis checkpoint and environs [ Map ]

To the south east of Jerusalem was until the beginning of August 2002, a checkpoint situated between Ras-el-Amud (which was annexed to Jerusalem after the 1967 war) and East Jerusalem. Pedestrians and vehicles had to cross the checkpoint on their way to Jerusalem. As of August 13, 2002, the checkpoint has been abandoned and in its stead a concrete wall some 150 meters longand 2 meters high was set up, cutting off Abu-Dis and Eizariya from Ras-el-Amud. Now access to West Bankers is totally denied. The wall is part of the “Jerusalem envelope”, a proposed fence that will be the “border” between Jerusalem and the West Bank.

Jubara Checkpoint [ Map ]

Location: The Jubara checkpoint is south of the Palestinian city Tulkarm and north of the Israeli city Taybeh. The checkpoint itself is on road 557 leading from the former green line border eastwards toward Nablus.
History: this checkpoint was till the beginning of June an inner Palestinian checkpoint which was at the junction of dirt roads which connected Tulkarm and Nablus, and of the farmers' villages which related to Tulkarm as their county center. The paved road No. 557 was for the use of Jewish settlers and army only. Since the building of the so called Security Fence or The Wall or, by the army, The Obstacle, its function and circumstances changed. As the Fence was moved eastwards this junction became the border between the West Bank and Israel.

The Nablus Checkpoints [ Map ]

Nablus, the largest city in the West Bank, is surrounded by four checkpoints: Beit Iba, Huwwara, Beit Furik and Al Badhan. (which is in Area A). In recent weeks checkpoints have been ”improved” considerably, with the building of concrete paths, concrete confinement cells with roofs, numerous turnstiles, and lavatories.

Beit Iba Checkpoint

The checkpoint is on the western outskirts of Nablus, between the villages Beit Iba and Deir Sharaf. This checkpoint is the principal western exist from Nablus, serving thousands of persons daily, including the inhabitants of Qusin, Sarra and Tell whose sole exit it is. This is the direct road to qalqiliya and Tulkarm. It is open from early morning until 17:30 and for emergency cases at night. There are very few private cars driving through, except for ambulances, “internationals” and rare privileged persons such as doctors .Pedestrians reach the eastern area from Nablus by bus or taxi, go through the checkpoint for ID and permit checks, then walk the couple of hundred metres to the buses and taxis awaiting on the western side. The regulations change sporadically, the only permanent rule being the prevention of adult men (ages 16-30 years) from crossing the checkpoint unless they have a special permit. Trucks go through after being checked.

Huwwara

The checkpoint lies south of Nablus, a kilometre north of Huwwara on road 60 and close to the junction with road 557 (forbidden to Palestinians) leading to the settlements of Elon Moreh and Itamar. Huwwara is the biggest checkpoint in the West Bank and serves an average of 6000 persons daily. It is divided into two, a southern and a northern part, which are about 100 metres apart. Ambulances are allowed to cross after checking. Truck can unload at a back-to-back area on road 557 near Awarta. Near the checkpoint a small market has formed selling drinks and food. The checkpoint closes at 17:30.

Beit Furik

Beit Furik checkpoint controls the movement of 5 villages divided into two separate enclaves. One enclave includes Beit Furik and Beit Dajan (enclave A) and the other Salem, Dir El Hatab and Azmut (enclave B). An asphalt road passes between two enclaves and leads to Elon Moreh settlement. This is an Apartheid (sterile, in the Israeli army jargon) road for Jews only. Two Jewish settlements, Elon Moreh and Itamar, are entitled to use this road which connects them to road 60, near Huwwara checkpoint. Palestinians are not allowed to drive on this road, neither to cross this road on foot, except at the checkpoint. A very long and continuous earth wall and a deep ditch prevents any car from reaching this road. Beit Furik and Beit Dajan people cross the main road on foot in order to get to and from Nablus. Those leaving Nablus for Salem, Azmut and Dir el Hatab, walk through the three turnstiles to be checked by the soldiers, then walk back through another turnstile in the opposite direction to reach the dirt road leading to their villages. The checkpoint closes at sunset after which it opens only for emergency cases. The movement between enclaves A and B is also through this checkpoint. Villagers from enclave B are able sometimes to reach Nablus through a passage near Azmut which is controlled a flying checkpoint.

Qalqiliya Checkpoint [ Map ]

Rihan Checkpoint[ Map ]

Barta`a ash Sharqiya, with a population of around 3000, and a few small villages, Khirbet Barta`a, Khirbet Muntar, Khirbet ash Sheikh Sa`eed, Um ar Rihan and Dher al Malih, are trapped between the “Green Line” and the Separation Fence at the northwestern West Bank. They are known as the “seamline” villages. The inhabitants cross the checkpoint to the West Bank to work, for studies, visiting families etc., as well as Palestinian labourers on their way back from work inside Israel. Everyone crossing the checkpoint is required to hold a permit, issued according to criteria imposed by the army. On total closure days, only the “seamline” inhabitants are allowed to cross the checkpoint. Settlers from Hinanit, Reihan, Shaked and Tal Menashe, which are scattered east of the “seamline” villages, and from the settlements Mevo Dotan and Hermesh, cross the checkpoint freely at any time.

Rihan checkpoint, which replaces the Barta’a and Shaked checkpoints, was opened in August 2004; massive construction work is going on there, which will turn it into a large-scale border crossing.

Also under construction is an apartheid road – a detour for the use of the above-mentioned settlements only.

Jalama Checkpoint

The checkpoint is on the “Green Line”, north of Jenin and south of Afula, between the Palestinian village of Jalama and the Palestinian-Israeli village of Mukeibla. Like Rihan, this checkpoint is also going to be a proper border crossing. Currently it is used mainly by Palestinian labourers working in Israel, families of Palestinian prisoners and detainees held in Israel, UN staff, and Palestinian patients treated at the Haemek hospital in Afula. Lorries with goods from Israel to the West Bank cannot cross the checkpoint and the goods have to be transferred to Palestinian lorries next to the checkpoint in a special plot using the back-to-back method.

Checkpoint 250

Is located near the Palestinian village Dahiyat Sabah al Kheir, north of Jenin. It is used for occasional checking of cars going to Palestinian villages in the neighbourhood and to Jalama checkpoint.

Southern West Bank Checkpoints [ Map ]

The South Hebron area has a rural, chiefly agricultural, population settled around three main towns: Hebron, Halhul and Yatta, which are situated in Area A. All the villages in the area are almost entirely cut off by dirt barriers. These barriers prevent motorized traffic between the villages and towns and block access to route 60 (the route running north and leading to Bethlehem and Jerusalem), to route 35 (the main east–west road), route 356 and 317. Unless they have permits, Palestinian vehicles are not allowed to use these roads. Consequently most of the traffic between the villages and towns is in authorized taxis (subject to special permits and only on specific parts of the routes) and also on donkeys, bicycles and on foot. Traffic is usually sparse. For the most part, only pedestrians are permitted to cross these main routes.

Tarqumiya

This is a checkpoint set up on route 35 between Kiryat Gat and Hebron and is intended to serve as a frontier crossing between the occupied territories and Israel. The checkpoint is manned by border policemen and it has a control post for agricultural produce and an office for registering the transfer of ownership of vehicles. The checkpoint is open 24 hours a day.

In the morning workers and goods pass from the occupied territories into Israel, and in the evening movement is in the opposite direction. During these times there is a considerable amount of traffic. The Palestinians using the CP have to have permits from the Hebron District Coordination Office, whereas Israelis go through without permits and without being checked.