Closures
February 2007
•Checkpoints and road
blocks, known as
“closures”, are a policy
of physical barriers and
permit requirements
used to control
Palestinian pedestrian
and vehicular
movement.
•The closures are
imposed by the Israeli
military as a security
measure to protect its
citizens.
•These closures
severely impact the
humanitarian and
socio-economic
situation of
Palestinians in the
West Bank.
The West Bank
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West Bank
(5,600 km2),
(2,160 mi2)
Palestinian Built-up
areas in the West
Bank
pop. 2,444,500
PCBS 2006
161 Israeli
settlements,
96 outposts
(285 km2)
(110 mi2)
pop. 450,000
in 2006
Israeli military
closed areas and
27 military bases
(1,175 km2)
(454 mi2)
(As of 5 Oct 2006)
0
5
Miles
10
The Closures
Checkpoint
A barrier manned by IDF and/or Border Police with
observation towers and other physical blocks used to
control pedestrian and vehicular access.
Partial Checkpoint
An established checkpoint operating periodically.
Trench
A ditch dug across or along roads used to prevent vehicle
movement.
Road Gate
A metal gate used to control Palestinian movement between
roads.
Roadblock
A series of 1 metre concrete blocks placed across roads used
by Palestinians to obstruct vehicle movement.
Earthmound
A mound of rubble, dirt, and boulders placed in the
middle of a road used by Palestinians to obstruct
vehicle movement.
Earthwall
A series of earthmounds less than 50m apart.
Roadbarrier
2 metre high fencing
along
West
Bank
roads
which
are
reserved,
generally,
forIsraeli traffic. These
fences
impede
Palestinians
from
using and crossing
these roads many of
which run between
main cities.
West Bank Barrier
The Barrier is an
additional impediment
to
Palestinian
movement. A 703km
long complex series of
8-9m high concrete
walls,
electronic
fences,
observation
towers,
trenches,
patrol roads and razor
wire used to block
Palestinian pedestrian
and
vehicular
movement inside the
West Bank and East
Jerusalem.
Israeli
Settlements
Israeli Military
Closed Areas
“Flying” checkpoints
In addition to the several hundred fixed
closures, random or “flying” checkpoints further
restrict Palestinian movement.
455 of these random checkpoints were observed
during January 2007.
Closures Update
Number of closures by type ( 11 July 2007)
74
Checkpoints
12
Partial Checkpoints
90
Road Gates
56
Roadblocks
191
Earthmounds
A barrier manned by IDF and/or Border
Police.
An established checkpoint operating
periodically.
A metal gate, often manned by IDF, used
to control movement along roads.
A series of 1 metre high concrete blocks
used to obstruct vehicle access.
A mound of rubble, dirt and/or rocks used
to obstruct vehicle access.
14
35.9
km
Trenches
87
86
km
Road barriers
15
15
km
Earth Walls
539
A ditch used to prevent vehicle crossing.
Road barriers placed alongside major roads
prevent movement across the roads.
A continuous wall or series
of earth mounds used to restrict access.
TOTAL
(11 July 2007)
No real improvement of Palestinian movement in
West Bank
Total number of checkpoints and roadblocks
Disengagement
710
659
43%
increase
since
disengagement
680
605
515
552
550
539
465
376
Jan/04
Jul/04
Jan/05
Jul/05
Jan/06
Jul/06
*Figures include checkpoints and physical obstacles. Data collected by OCHA
Jan/07
Jul/07
Closures and the Humanitarian
Situation
•Under the 4th Geneva Convention, Israel, as an
occupying power may apply security measures for
immediate military need and specific threat.
•However, the closure system is collectively applied to
all Palestinians throughout the West Bank.
•For any improvement in the humanitarian and socioeconomic situation, the closures must be removed.
Photo by OCHA/Steve Sabella
Methods and Credits
USE
This Power Point Presentation may be used,
however, must be accompanied by the date
and source.
METHODS
OCHA oPt has been monitoring the closures
since 2003. Our field teams record the
obstacles with a GPS unit. These files are used
to make maps. The figures are regularly
updated.
MORE RESOURCES
OCHA-oPt documents and maps are available
at <www.ochaopt.org>
CONTACT
Email <[email protected]>
Phone +972 (0) 2582-9962
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