West Bank checkpoints closed

For Immediate Release
West Bank checkpoints closed while world is watching Lebanon

Date: 05th August 2006

Tonight while the eyes of the world are on Lebanon and Gaza, Israel continues its campaign of collective punishment and closures in the West Bank. In response to reports of a possible suicide bomber, at least two major checkpoints on road number 5 have been closed for the last four hours. There are reports of over 500 vehicles held up at Huwarra checkpoint leading to and from Nablus. Tens of cars were also held up at Zatarra checkpoint on the way from Salfeet to Jerusalem. IWPS witnesses report that ‘Many children, women and men were delayed on their way home because of Israel’s policy of punishing all Palestinians for the tiny minority of those who commit acts of violence’.

One soldier was overhead threatening a driver who had left his car to talk to a member of IWPS. IWPS reports that the soldier said ‘if you get out of your car I will smash your face in’.

The International Womens Peace Service (IWPS) witnesses, documents and publicizes human rights abuses and peacefully intervenes to prevent them. We support non-violent resistance to the illegal and brutal Military Occupation of Palestinian lands. We live in Hares, Salfit.

ENDS

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