Israeli rights group B'Tselem slams West Bank checkpoints as 'illegal'

Why?..The same reason he prefixed his name with "Don"...Tried to make himself feel important..So he concocted a fake trip...Cost his nothing in monetary value, just a few strokes on the keyboard..He was stroking himself, if you know what I mean..

If a person wanted to fake a trip to the Middle East, there are so many videos on youtube and other places on the Internet from which to pick up bits and pieces of information that it could be done. Second, no-one in their senses would actually take a trip like that and not take pictures or videos, and knowing the amount of interest there would be here on Talkbacks, he would know we'd expect to see pictures posted somewhere, on youtube or even Myspace. He didn't think that anyone would know about Alfei Menashe, which you did. So yes, it could well be faked. But the real question is, why? And that I have no idea about, do you? Regards

The "Don" before his name is as factual as his trip...He doesn't merit using the "Don" and he didn't make the trip...I'll tell you why it was a fake... First of all, he couldn't possibly have seen all those people inside of three weeks. Second, few, if they had actually spoken to him, would relate their innermost thoughts to a total stranger. Third, he said he was delayed a Kalandiya.. That meant his papers were suspect, which in turn meant that he would have had a great deal of difficulty accessing all the places he mentioned, including those in the hills, such as Alfei Menashe...I know the area quite well, lived not too far from there...It isn't an easy trip... Personally, I think he looked at a map, picked out a few interesting points and fantasized his trip.. Aside from that, I can't think of any tourist that would make the trip without taking a camera to record his memories....It's beyond belief.

Actually what Don Camillo should have done - what I would have done if I'd gone there - is to take pictures or videos or camera-videos of his visit to the West Bank and Israel. Then he could have posted them on the Internet for us all to see. So yes, it is odd... I wish he'd reply to me with his version of what happened. If they wouldn't check him through, I wonder what the reason was?

His papers were suspect and they wouldn't check him through..Of course that shoots all to hell his claim that he visited so many places and interview such a huge array of Israeli's. The truth will out and it did.

My apology, this instance only.

If you don't source your reports, people will tend to think you're making them up.

Don Camillo, what do you mean, at the Qalandia checkpoint you had an invitation to stretch out in the sun for a bit? Please explain.

And what do they need 455 road blocks in an area that size for anyway? Surely some of them could be removed without threatening security.

Also, all too often anyone who is critical of Israel's actions is immediately denounced as "anti-semitic", which is particularly obnoxious when a person knows they are not. Being critical of some of Israel's behaviour is not the same thing as hating Jews. But the way the abusive term "anti-semitic" is thrown around hereabouts, you'd think it was.

Islam the religion of moses jesus and muhammad is coming oh israel.

Apart from some of the editorialists here at Haaretz.com, it is very rare for individual Israelis and for any groups within Israel to take a step back and examine its conduct in any critical way. If any criticism is offered the default position is "anti-semitism" or if an individual, a "self-hating Jew". So it is heartening to have an organization immune from those labels objectively examine Israeli conduct and to publish unpleasant truths about that conduct. Keep up the good work B'Tselem - you are one of the few voices that provide optimism about Israel's future.

Its the same old story from Zionists, particularly the insane orthodox ones. Against every charge of Zionist law breaking, human rights abuses, and international crimes - its always the same response - "others do it too" "why don't you criticize Islamic Jihad?". Thats not the issue - the problem is israel's violation of its own legal and ethical norms, not what others do -

You've still not said anything to convince me that you see Israel and her problems with anything like understanding. You haven't withdrawn your unsuitable comment about a PR behemoth, for instance. I still see you as the same person concealing prejudice under a fairly well mannered writing style.

"I noticed your account of your travels through the West Bank and your scornful description of ignorant Israelis who believe that the Arabs would behead them. I`ve never heard this comment and consider it exaggerated and insulting." Hannah I didn't like this comment any more than you do - and it was not scorn from me but a replay of what folk believed. Most of those who peddled this rubbish were Police and IBP officials near the Damascus Gate and on point duty during Tisha Be'Av down the Via Dolorosa, and also at the Qalandia checkpoint when we had, let us say, an invitation to stretch out in the sun for a bit. And again at the 'international' checkpoint at Beit Lehem. Not all Israelis I admit but a snapshot yet common answer from different individuals every time I asked their opinion. it is indeed an insulting comment but try convincing those who said it that it is not true.

What a nonsense article? What part about it is illegal? No on has a "RIGHT" to come in or out of a country. Especially the arab 5th column. Btselem always takes teh side of arab terror and arab land thieves, its no suprise that Haaretz prints these things. Its a big YAWN for any normal individual. A countries security comes first!

"Even if all the restrictions are intended to achieve legitimate security interests, many of them would violate the principle of proportionality and therefore are illegal," the report said.

The Geneva Convention, which is flung around indiscriminately in order to point fingers at Israel, actually refers to, in several clauses, the fact that military necessity should be considered IN ADDITION to civilian concerns and recognizes military necessity as a totally legitimate consideration, that must be weighed into the equation of treatment of civilians. Btselem, by focusing ONLY on civilian claims and not on military necessity, ignores at least as many sub-clauses in international law than it accuses Israel of doing. Suicide bombers aren't exactly peaceful are they?

I've been reading your postings and evaluating your attitudes which might seem balanced until one takes into consideration that it's very difficult for you to see that a pro-Israel article or website might be justified. To you this might seem an even handed point of view, while to me you sound prejudiced; "Camera is a notorious propaganda element of the pro-Zionist PR machine whose sole purpose is to denigrate and scorn those who dare to stand up to the Israeli PR behemoth." An Israeli PR behemoth doesn't exist. There are 22 Arab states many of them with huge propaganda budgets, mainly aimed at their own populace, that concentrate on delegitimising the tiny single Jewish state: this is truly a behemoth. I noticed your account of your travels through the West Bank and your scornful description of ignorant Israelis who believe that the Arabs would behead them. I've never heard this comment and consider it exaggerated and insulting.

The so-called Anti-racist was preaching from a racist country..Hardly in a position to tell others what to do...You're a Goldberg like my name is Mustafa.

As usual, from the usual posters... If the message is accurate and undeniable, attack the messenger or change the subject. Not a single post challenged the validity of the report, instead opting to involve Inuits from Canada, etc....

Hannah your posts have in the past been, mostly, fairly reasonable. Please keep it that way for the sake of decent discourse. Bt'Selem remains an honest and accurate human rights monitoring organisation which is under constant propaganda attack for daring to highlight an area the authorities prefer to keep away from public awareness. Camera is a notorious propaganda element of the pro-Zionist PR machine whose sole purpose is to denigrate and scorn those who dare to stand up to the Israeli PR behemoth. And the IDF are bound to give blame-shifting accounts - look at the recent reportage on their lies and evasions about who shot Tom Hurndall and James Miller. Soldiers will say anything to justify murder to make it look like an honest action. STay objective, unbiased and look to the back-story - and be happy that the truth will always emerge one day.

..the Israeli Government has for decades consistently refused to accept that any of the Geneva Protocols applies to the Administered Territories. So your post is pointless.

You obviously do not know a thing about Israel, but at least you should know what is going on in your own backyard with the dispossession and discrimination of the Indians, Inuits, Eskimos. Another fact is that the biggest concentration of Jihadis in North America is in your country planning and attempting to attack/murder/blow up anyone in Canada. They must have a good reason to do so: it is because you Canadians have very racist attitudes toward them.

who reside and commit their atrocities right under their noses.

How are your Canadian Indians getting along. Is your government contemplating returning some of the stolen land to them?..When you've cleaned your own house, then you can talk.

It's no longer so. The honesty and accuracy of their statistics and their reports have been queried more and more lately. For examples in which B'Tselem's claims are contradicted not only by the IDF but also by Palestinian sources see "B'Tselem's Annual Casualty Figures Questioned" at www.camera.org. Here is one example: B'Tselem reported that Wahib a-Dik, killed Dec. 14, 2006 in Kafr a-Dik, was a bystander to hostilities when he was killed. Again, the army disputed this, saying "soldiers had fired at a person who was getting ready to throw a concrete block on the troops from atop a building" (AFP, Dec. 14, 2006).

The Fourth Geneva Convention (on the treatment of civilians - the reference for human rights law) says nothing about a guaranteed automatic right of freedom of movement. Neither does the First Protocol, which is more stringent regarding the protection of civilians. 'Protected persons' may ask to leave the territory (ie leave the West Bank), which should be granted to them 'unless it is contrary to national interests of the State' (ie security purposes). It states that citizens cannot be illegally interned - a totally different thing and one that is not happening in this case. The writers of the Geneva Conventions recognized that during a state of conflict, such unlimited movement is unsafe for at least one side. The Geneva Convention, which is flung around indiscriminately in order to point fingers at Israel, actually refers in several clauses, to the fact that military necessity should be considered IN ADDITION to civilian concerns and recognizes military necessity as legitimate

Send this anti-Israeli Israelis to Camp Palestine to live or Camp Tehran or Damascus. See how fast they send letters claiming they miss their mommies and daddies.

lets say for arguements sake they are illegal....so is speeding when you are rushing a person for emergency medical treatment to the hospital both are done to save lives what b'tselem is doing is endangering lives....the checkpoints will come down when the threat goes away

Now, if B'Tselem protested against the checkpoints that prevent Jews from ascending and praying on the Temple Mount, that would show that they had a point of principle. But they do not.

firing rockets into israel, no matter where they hit, whether killing children in gaza or in israel - this is collective punishment!