Two Thirds of Students Unable to Reach Birzeit University
Skip Schiel, Right to Education Campaign, Birzeit University, 22 September 2004
Students and faculty were unable to get to Birzeit University today due to an Israeli military checkpoint set up on the road from Ramallah to Birzeit which was in place from the morning until 2pm in the afternoon. Hundreds of students waited in Ramallah for the road to clear and only a few students were able to reach the university.
For two-and-a-half years, between April 2001 - December 2003, a permanent Israeli military roadblock on the road from Ramallah to Birzeit meant that Birzeit University was virtually sealed off from many of its students and faculty. Surda Roadblock was dismantled at the end of last year, but the road is subject to the constant threat of periodic closures by 'flying checkpoints', where Israeli Army jeeps and soldiers block the road to the University arbitrarily.
The road from Ramallah to Birzeit was blocked by Israeli Army soldiers for 18 hours
Students try to get across the checkpoint on foot
Students waiting in Ramallah to hear if it is possible to reach the University
A student waits in Ramallah unable to reach her classes
