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IDF troops checking cars at a checkpoint in the West Bank city of Jericho. (AP)
Last update - 09:58 14/04/2008
IDF probing why Palestinians held 16 hours at checkpoint
By Akiva Eldar
Tags: West Bank, Israel 

The Israel Defense Forces has opened an investigation into allegations that 46 Palestinians were detained for no reason at a West Bank checkpoint for 16 hours last week, and their car tires punctured. The human rights group MachsomWatch (which overlooks IDF activity at checkpoints) filed a complaint about the incident with the army.

According to a MachsomWatch report, IDF troops at the checkpoint, located along Highway 5, stopped the Palestinian job-seekers, males aged between 14 and 50, on suspicion of trying to enter Israel along with five drivers suspected of ferrying illegals. The Palestinians were detained early in the morning, and kept standing for hours, on the grounds that "when they sit down they make trouble." They were barred from using the restrooms adjacent to the checkpoint, compelling them to use the thorny field, in plain view of those passing through the checkpoint. They were not permitted to eat and were given only water. Requests to take medication, sit down, or lean back were met with contempt or disregard by the soldiers.

In addition, the detainees' car tires were punctured in the parking lot, and some cars had speakers broken and pedals severely damaged, the report said.
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According to the IDF Spokesperson's Office, the army condemns inappropriate conduct and will review the case brought to its attention by MachsomWatch.

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      1.   Disgusting IDF behaviour at checkpoints... 06:19  |  Silvienne 14/04/08
      2.   Post this at all travel agents 07:13  |  Natallie Durson 14/04/08
      3.   ZionNazis 07:25  |  Igor 14/04/08
      4.   True love 07:26  |  MR 14/04/08
      5.   Where`s all the right wing comments? 07:27  |  Bob 14/04/08
      6.   Deep shame... 08:26  |  Esther 14/04/08
      7.   All checkpoints should have cameras like cop cars in the States. 08:46  |  d.dor 14/04/08
      8.   They Deserve It- And More 09:21  |  Yishai Kohen 14/04/08
      9.   Another job well done 09:26  |  H50 14/04/08
      10.   Comment 09:38  |  Right Wing 14/04/08
      11.   Re Bob #4 09:39  |  Esther 14/04/08
      12.   # 8 Yishai Kohen and how to continue the cycle of Violence 09:46  |  SJ 14/04/08
      13.   Re #8... Epitome of the `ugly-Israeli` ... 09:55  |  Esther 14/04/08
      14.   IDF investigates only when there are independent witnesses 09:59  |  Chanalau, Tova 14/04/08
      15.   Nothing wrong with this 10:16  |  Natalie 14/04/08
      16.   Re Yishai #8 10:25  |  Esther 14/04/08
      17.   Re Yishai #8 10:25  |  Esther 14/04/08
      18.   If this report is true... 10:25  |  JonathanInTelAviv 14/04/08
      19.   # 6 to esther...i`ve got another question... 10:39  |  eric 14/04/08
      20.   # 10 to the right wing`s comment 10:46  |  eric 14/04/08
      21.   Nothing to see here, move along 10:50  |  spyguy 14/04/08
      22.   No "Cycle Of Violence" As Long As We Crush Terrorists 10:54  |  Yishai Kohen 14/04/08
      23.   # 8 to yishai kohen 11:03  |  eric 14/04/08
      24.   MY COMMENT 11:12  |  A HASSAN 14/04/08
      25.   eighteen year old soldiers misbehave, officers need to correct 11:31  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 14/04/08
      26.   "Poor" jobseekers driving cars and getting sick on command 11:41  |  Absolute Sweden 14/04/08
      27.   Esther,stop talking,employ pal caretaker for your grandchildren 11:44  |  Absolute Sweden 14/04/08
      28.   Checkpoint 11:57  |  Steve a 14/04/08
      29.   Dear Eric in NM 11:59  |  Aviad 14/04/08
      30.   IDF is a national scandal 13:03  |  David Zeri 14/04/08
      31.   Maybe I misunderstod 13:10  |  Jackie 14/04/08
      32.   Natallie Durson - Look in the mirror and tell everyone you 13:13  |  a 14/04/08
      33.   Yes Jackie you did misunderstand 13:36  |  Sylvie 14/04/08
      34.   inappropriate conduct 13:49  |  Carol SCHELLER 14/04/08
      35.   Well, well: Read yourself... 13:52  |  A Life 14/04/08
      36.   SILVIENNE (#001) Is there any American Organization looking up 14:00  |  Gil 14/04/08
      37.   Is this exceptional. Or is it typical. 14:11  |  examiner 14/04/08
      38.   Post this to #2 14:35  |  Juliet from Derby 14/04/08
      39.   Put the guns down and be a man 14:37  |  Realistic is back! 14/04/08
      40.   There is definitely something wrong with you #15 14:37  |  Norman S 14/04/08
      41.   Muslims effect on travel 14:38  |  American Christian 14/04/08
      42.   Wrong Margie ! 14:42  |  Sean 14/04/08
      43.   I would strongly suggest an IDF age-limit of (at least) 23....... 14:44  |  Swiss (Dino) 14/04/08
      44.   Re #36: Silvienne is just another coward 15:01  |  Georgie 14/04/08
      45.   Juliet - what are you talking about? 15:07  |  Sylvie 14/04/08
      46.   The Boy that cried WOLF, WOLF 15:09  |  Gil 14/04/08
      47.   The Boy that cried WOLF, WOLF 15:10  |  Gil 14/04/08
      48.   They should have tortured the Arabs. 15:27  |  *BEN JABO 14/04/08
      49.   Sean no objectivity - at a distance of countries 15:38  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 14/04/08
      50.   Ben Jabo 16:05  |  Jacob 14/04/08
      51.   #26, Absolute Sweden. The "argument" of a spoiled brat. 16:10  |  zmogus 14/04/08
      52.   Why are you talking about nazis, 16:18  |  fab 14/04/08
      53.   Margie -learn a little before you speak 16:23  |  Sylvie 14/04/08
      54.   #14 Fails to realize 16:42  |  * BEN JABO 14/04/08
      55.   #48 IS A FAKE POST Jacob - Don`t be a moron 16:46  |  * BEN JABO 14/04/08
      56.   not a good idea 16:47  |  RM 14/04/08
      57.   agreed with fab 16:50  |  rm 14/04/08
      58.   Swiss (Dino) # 43 _ I Agree With You. Some Of These 16:55  |  Eli 14/04/08
      59.   Yishai you are an animal 17:08  |  Marilyn 14/04/08
      60.   Re Absolute #26, 27 17:35  |  Esther 14/04/08
      61.   Silvienne - Advocating terror 17:37  |  Michael Jacobs 14/04/08
      62.   #39, Realistic... 17:38  |  Silvienne 14/04/08
      63.   #49 Margie it is you who has no objectivity. 17:38  |  Deborah 14/04/08
      64.   re #9 `Another job well done` 17:39  |  Colin Wright 14/04/08
      65.   Dirty Irish Catholic exploiter Sean,you`d better try 17:40  |  Absolute Sweden 14/04/08
      66.   That is why 17:41  |  Michael N 14/04/08
      67.   Machsom Watch tells the truth about the IDF 17:45  |  Janice 14/04/08
      68.   #43 Swiss (Dino) 17:50  |  * BEN JABO 14/04/08
      69.   Jimmy Carter should visit checkpoints 18:10  |  Harold 14/04/08
      70.   reap what you sow 18:11  |  American Christian 14/04/08
      71.   There is nothing surprising about the daily humiliations 18:13  |  bernadette 14/04/08
      72.   # 38 re no #2 18:14  |  Monica L