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. Closures February 2007

The West Bank

West Bank (5,600 km 2 ) Palestinian Built-up areas in the West Bank pop. 2,444,500 PCBS Israeli settlements, 96 outposts (183 km 2 ) pop. 406,500 ICBS 2004 Israeli military closed areas and 27 military bases (1,006 km 2 ) (As of 5 Oct 2006) Please wait while slide is loading

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 ( 22 February 2007) TOTAL (22 February 2007) 550 Earthmounds A mound of rubble, dirt and/or rocks used to obstruct vehicle access. 211 Checkpoints A barrier manned by IDF and/or Border Police km Trenches A ditch used to prevent vehicle crossing. 12 Road Gates A metal gate, often manned by IDF, used to control movement along roads. 95 Roadblocks A series of 1 metre high concrete blocks used to obstruct vehicle access. 60 Earth Walls A continuous wall or series of earth mounds used to restrict access km Partial Checkpoints An established checkpoint operating periodically. 12 Road barriers Road barriers placed alongside major roads prevent movement across the roads km

*Figures include checkpoints and physical obstacles, data collected by OCHA Number of West Bank Closures Disengagement 46% increase since disengagement Closures Update No improvement in Palestinian movement

Under the 4 th 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 socio- economic situation, the closures must be removed. Photo by OCHA/Steve Sabella Closures and the Humanitarian Situation

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 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 CONTACT Phone +972 (0) Close the presentation Methods and Credits