Surda
June 20, 2001
Time: 17:05-18:40

Number of Soldiers Present, license plate #s, etc.: There is a jeep and a personnel carrier. 4 soldiers are outside the jeep, and 1 inside. Jeep # 669343. Events Witnessed:

17:05 The soldiers are stopping random taxis that go by and checking their IDs.

17:10 Soldiers check private cars. Taffic is blocked and becomes backed up.

17:15 A second jeep arrives with soldiers. 2 private cars are denied passage.

17:20 3 private cars are denied passage

17:22 A UN car is stopped and questioned. A private car denied passage.

17:25 Soldiers make a taxi wait while they check IDs.

17:30 A man who lives near Birzeit heading from Ramallah towards Birzeit is not allowed through the checkpoint. He waits until 17:55 and then a soldier tells him to leave.

17:35 2 private cars denied passage. The second jeep leaves. A taxi is stopped until 17:55.

17:45 2 private cars denied passage

17:47 The taxi that was detained at 17:25 is released.

18:00 2 private cars and a delivery truck are denied passage. A taxi is detained until 6:10

18:05 A private car is denied passage

18:10 A private car with yellow plates is denied passage

18:25 3 private cars coming from the Beit El road are stopped behind the jeep. 1 is denied passage.

18:40 The Israeli jeep leaves and the checkpoint ends

Summary: We saw 14 vehicles denied passage and turned around by the soldiers. 3 taxis were detained for at least 10 minutes, and several more were detained for shorter lengths of time.