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Last update - 12:20 14/02/2008
IDF experts suggest 'surprise' roadblocks in place of checkpoints
By Akiva Eldar, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Van Leer Institute, IDF 

Military experts presented alternatives to the policy of roadblocks in the West Bank, suggesting instead surprise roadblocks, Palestinian Authority-coordinated patrols, and more fences around Israeli settlements, at a conference in Jerusalem on Wednesday.

The current method, and the large number of roadblocks it employs, drew heavy criticism at the Van Leer Institute conference, where experts said it harms both the Palestinian population as well as the Israel Defense Forces.

At the conference, the experts presented a position paper asserting that the West Bank checkpoints motivate terror, and that reducing their number will help calm the atmosphere in the West Bank and undermine the status of Hamas in Gaza.
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The team behind the paper comprises senior reserve officers - including former heads of Military Intelligence and the Civil Administration, and division, brigade and battalion commanders in the territories. The group was coordinated by Ran Edelist, of the Israeli-Palestinian radio station The Voice of Peace.

This document, which was sent to Defense Minister Ehud Barak, states that although the checkpoints prevent terror attacks in the short term, they are causing the population to lose hope, undermining human dignity and increasing the desire for revenge.

It blames the desire to prevent every terror attack at all costs for activity that does not distinguish between terrorists and citizens, and notes that the political echelon is aware of the strategic damage the policy causes, but fears criticism that a change in checkpoint policy contributed to an attack.

The officers question the effectiveness of the 550 checkpoints within the West Bank, and recommend scaling them back immediately and drastically.

The alternative plan is based on a coordinated and supervised system of surprise roadblocks, a rear defense line adjacent to the Green Line, better protective measures on the roads used by Israelis and better coordination with the Palestinian security forces.

Related articles:
  • Barak: West Bank roadblocks are effective, will remain in place
  • Barak to propose: Replace W. Bank roadblocks with mobile checkpoints
  • World Bank: PA economy can't pick up when mobility is limited
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      1.   Think-tanks... 08:45  |  Esther 14/02/08
      2.   They`re Obviously Not Experts 11:01  |  Yishai Kohen 14/02/08
      3.   Born to inflict wounds and hurts on others. 11:28  |  El-Birawi 14/02/08
      4.   There are probably chosen to be biased just as Eldar is 11:53  |  Shlomo 14/02/08
      5.   Nizi Roadblocks 11:57  |  Natallie Durson 14/02/08
      6.   Re Yishai #2 12:05  |  Esther 14/02/08
      7.   Yishai Kohen for PM 12:14  |  Morris Stein 14/02/08
      8.   Re: Esther #6 12:16  |  Yishai Kohen 14/02/08
      9.   Let Gonen Segev supervise airport drug checks 12:50  |  Ilan 14/02/08
      10.   THERE ARE THINK TANKS AND STINK TANKS 13:07  |  SPTZ 14/02/08
      11.   Yeshai - No 2 13:10  |  Palestinian Brit 14/02/08
      12.   Israel - a Billy NoMates sort of country 13:28  |  Clickfool 14/02/08
      13.   To Philistine Brit #11 13:45  |  Yishai Kohen 14/02/08
      14.   the experts are wrong 13:55  |  amir yoffe 14/02/08
      15.   will the editor allow me to tell akiva eldar that i 13:56  |  amir yoffe 14/02/08
      16.   apart from the lefties why would anyone accept 13:58  |  natke nir 14/02/08
      17.   system of surprise roadblocks 14:26  |  Mary 14/02/08
      18.   akiva eldar and "short term terrorism" 14:32  |  amir yoffe 14/02/08
      19.   Stop or I`ll shoot.....No 13 14:39  |  Palestinian Brit 14/02/08
      20.   Palestinian Brit: Yes- Stop Or I`ll Shoot 14:44  |  Yishai Kohen 14/02/08
      21.   as long as we h. quran, torah, and bible 15:50  |  bozhidar bob balkas 14/02/08
      22.   If the IDF quits roadblocks now, Hamas takes credit 15:53  |  Jason 14/02/08
      23.   #11 Palestinian Brit 16:33  |  * BEN JABO 14/02/08
      24.   #19 Palestinian Brit - Stop & Shoot 16:35  |  * BEN JABO 14/02/08
      25.   #17 Mary - Boston 16:39  |  * BEN JABO 14/02/08
      26.   #20 Yishai 17:00  |  hat 14/02/08
      27.   Israel is lost in the gutter of occupation 17:03  |  Ibrahim 14/02/08
      28.   Jason from Aspn 17:59  |  Ibrahim 14/02/08
      29.   women go by something else? 18:03  |  montgomery rosen 14/02/08
      30.   #11 Palestinian Brit 18:36  |  Pal too! 14/02/08
      31.   Leftie Esther,a Grandma like you and her grandson were murdered 19:38  |  Absolute Sweden 14/02/08
      32.   ibrahim you are equating your barbaric people 19:39  |  bedlam 14/02/08
      33.   ibrahim "insisting on colonising the west bank" 19:43  |  bedlam 14/02/08
      34.   Response to Ibrahim 19:48  |  Jason 14/02/08
      35.   ibrahim "stop terrorising palestinian civilians" 20:00  |  bedlam 14/02/08
      36.   Jason, how convenient 20:29  |  Ibrahim 14/02/08
      37.   #3 El Birawi born to be the biggest 20:57  |  TOMY 14/02/08
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      40.   PALESTINIAN BRIT - YOUR HERO`S ARE CONFUSE 04:57  |  * BEN JABO 15/02/08
      41.   #27, Ibrahim... 07:06  |  Silvienne 16/02/08
      42.   #33, bedlam, no "capiche", to quote your post... 07:09  |  Silvienne 16/02/08
      43.   #17, Mary is quite right... 07:11  |  Silvienne 16/02/08
      44.   #41 Silvienne to Ibrahim 21:07  |  * BEN JABO 16/02/08
      45.   #42 Silvienne your post #42 21:08  |  * BEN JABO 16/02/08
      46.   #43 Silvienne BOTH You and Mary are all wet 21:11  |  * BEN JABO 16/02/08
      47.   #44, Ben Jabo--48,56,67,73... 08:37  |  Silvienne 17/02/08
      48.   #45, Ben Jabo.. 08:39  |  Silvienne 17/02/08
      49.   #46, Ben Jabo... 08:41  |  Silvienne 17/02/08
      50.   #47 Silvienne - Nobody is punishing the Palestinians 01:15  |  * BEN JABO 18/02/08
      51.   #49 Silvienne - You`re still beating around the same bush 01:21  |  * BEN JABO 18/02/08
      52.   Egyptians LOVE Gazans from MaAn News Agency 02:45  |  *BEN JABO 18/02/08
      53.   Surprise Roadblocks 17:49  |  * BEN JABO 18/02/08
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      55.   #51, Ben Jabo... 09:51  |  Silvienne 19/02/08
      56.   #53, Ben Jabo... 09:53  |  Silvienne 19/02/08
      57.   #54 Silvienne - we know no such thing 01:51  |  * BEN JABO 20/02/08
      58.   #55 Silvienne - Now matter what the call themselves 01:53  |  * BEN JABO 20/02/08
      59.   #56 Silvienne - The thigh bone is connected to shin bone 02:20  |  * BEN JABO 20/02/08
      60.   #57, Ben Jabo...what firecracker crap is that? 05:02  |  Silvienne 21/02/08
      61.   #58, Ben Jabo...No, both of them... 05:06  |  Silvienne 21/02/08
      62.   #59, Ben Jabo... 05:11  |  Silvienne 21/02/08
      63.   #60 Silvienne- You always deprecate the Kassams 00:13  |  * BEN JABO 22/02/08
      64.   #62 Silvienne Al Aqsa Martyre is still active 00:31  |  * BEN JABO 22/02/08
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      71.   #70 Silvienne - Try and get it through your noggin 06:48  |  * BEN JABO 23/02/08
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