Men scrambling down hill to avoid checkpoint at Wadi Naar ...
Travel
Freedom of movement for people and goods is an essential requirement for any functional economy. Still, with more than 300 checkpoints and roadblocks across the occupied Palestinian territories, travel is severely hampered, preventing people from working, getting to hospitals and seeing relatives.
The United Nations General Assembly stresses 'the need to preserve the territorial integrity of all the Occupied Palestinian Territory and to guarantee the freedom of movement of persons and goods within the Palestinian territory, including the removal of restrictions on movement into and from East Jerusalem, and the freedom of movement to and from the outside world.'
UN Resolution 57/127, December 2002
UN Resolution 57/127, December 2002
Trips of a few kilometres, where possible, often take hours
'Bypass roads', as the access routes to Jewish settlements in the occupied territories are known, are officially off bounds to all but Israeli citizens. They criss-cross the occupied territories, restricting the movement of Palestinians who are kept queuing at checkpoints, and barred from using the primary roads.
Trips of a few kilometres, where possible, often take hours, following lengthy detours to avoid the areas surrounding Israeli settlements and settlers' roads.
Travel restrictions and closures are the main cause for the slump in the Palestinian economy, according to the World Bank.
In the last three years there have been numerous cases of Palestinian women in labour delayed at checkpoints or refused permission to reach medical facilities, resulting in 52 women giving birth at checkpoints.
At least 90 Palestinians requiring medical treatment abroad have been prevented from leaving the country either because of the continued closure of the Palestinian borders and international airport by Israeli authorities, or because Israel does not grant permits for travel.
All stats from http://www.palestinemonitor.org
Trips of a few kilometres, where possible, often take hours, following lengthy detours to avoid the areas surrounding Israeli settlements and settlers' roads.
Travel restrictions and closures are the main cause for the slump in the Palestinian economy, according to the World Bank.
In the last three years there have been numerous cases of Palestinian women in labour delayed at checkpoints or refused permission to reach medical facilities, resulting in 52 women giving birth at checkpoints.
At least 90 Palestinians requiring medical treatment abroad have been prevented from leaving the country either because of the continued closure of the Palestinian borders and international airport by Israeli authorities, or because Israel does not grant permits for travel.
All stats from http://www.palestinemonitor.org
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