THIS IS CLOSURE

What is Closure? Closure is allegedly a means of systematically improving Israeli security such that bombing attacks like the one that occurred recently in West Jerusalem, are deterred or prevented, and hence prospects for peace, further enhanced. But what is closure? Closure is a series of checkpoints throughout the West Bank and Gaza, that prevent Palestinians from reaching their chosen destination, using a direct route. If they are smart, determined and lucky, when turned away from one area by Israeli soldiers, they will simply divert their route, choose another exit and keep trying till they get there. In so doing, they incur often substantially increased costs in time, effort and petrol and reveal the blatant lack of systematic Israeli procedures.

I approach a checkpoint at the outskirts of Ramallah, with my Jerusalem ID-holding colleague at the wheel. According to the public disclosures of the latest Israeli security measures, as a Jerusalemite, he is not allowed to enter Ramallah. At the first checkpoint, the agitated, extremely young and yet apparently 'In charge' soldier informs us that 1, since 1 have a Ramallah residency permit, am allowed to enter the city. My colleague is not. We attempt bargaining with him, since from experience we know it is possible. Alas, to no avail. "Do you not know what happened two days ago in Jerusalem?" he yells at us. Of course we know, we smile back thinking to ourselves how could we not ... the resultant closure has turned our lives instantly upside down and built a huge logistical wall around our previous daily activities. We give in, turn around, and drive 200 meters or so to another entrance to the city, determined not to give up on the 'bargaining strategy'. At the second checkpoint, 1 wind down the window, give the much more gregarious soldier a beaming smile and a "Hi!". He looks at me, somewhat confused to see a foreigner, but smiles back. "Can we go in?", 1 ask him, "I live in Ramallah". He glances at my British passport, and my colleague. "Where's he from", he asks. "Jerusalem", 1 answer. "Yeah, Ok, you can go in." he says. "Have a nice day!", he adds. This is neither systematic, nor procedural and therefore, more than likely, ineffective as a security measure. It also demonstrated to us, extremely clearly, that these young, trigger happy soldiers, are not under any orders to, for example, "Prevent all Jerusalem ID holders from entering Ramallah". Each individual soldier cheeks the look on your face, the look of your car (we notice how newer, more expensive looking cars are subject to less harassment), and the eloquence of your sweet-talking and then single handedly decides to what extent you represent a 'security risk', although why he/she should be concerned with the "security risk' of you entering a Palestinian-ruled town is beyond me. So what orders are these checkpoint soldiers given at the beginning of their shift? Stop all those who look suspicious, at your own discretion? Is this the security system of the most 'security" obsessed nation in the world? More likely, "hassle them and punish them". Just as Rabin ordered during the Palestinian uprising, 'the Intifada', explicitly and coldly, "Break their bones!". Soldiers duly did. literally.

Closure is not a security measure. It is neither implemented systematically nor rigidly enough to be one. Closure does not prevent Palestinians from reaching Israel if they really want to (albeit that they are severely punished if caught). Closure does not promote peace since it dramatically increases both the time and the cost that it takes

for all Palestinians to go about their everyday chores and business. It also jeopardizes their education and health - access to medical facilities is severely restricted under closure and has resulted in numerous fatalities in the past. Closure, as a result, doubles the already simmering frustration that prevails throughout the West Bank and Gaza. Closure is quite simply a very effective form of collective punishment imposed systematically on the Palestinians every time that Israel feels the desire to do so. The Geneva Convention, Article 33, clearly states that collective punishment is illegal. Closure also violates the Oslo Accords, supposedly the platform for peace, which called for the continued free movement of Palestinians between the West Bank and Gaza, and Israel. 'Security' is a pretext for a humiliating, degrading, inhuman, illegal, malicious form of vengeful punishment that violates every clause of international law regarding the illegality of targeting civilians, under any circumstances. This, is Closure'

By: C. W.
A British Journalist living in Ramallah