BICOM

The Israel Defence Forces announced yesterday that it is to remove the Hawara Checkpoint in the West Bank. The checkpoint, which became iconic to Palestinians and their supporters during the period of the Second Intifada as a symbol of restrictions on the movement in the West Bank, is situated on the highway between Ramallah and Nablus. The checkpoint has witnessed a number of violent incidents. In 2004, a 12 year old boy wearing an explosive belt was apprehended there. In recent years, however, with the sharp decline in terror attacks after 2004, conditions at the checkpoint have eased. The removal of the checkpoint comes following Quartet Representative Tony Blair, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement of a package of measures to improve life on the ground in the West Bank. The package of measures also included projects in East Jerusalem and a comprehensive set of changes in the Gaza Strip.

Since 2009, in the context of a more general relaxation of restrictions on freedom of movement in the West Bank, Palestinian motorists have faced only occasional random checks from soldiers at the checkpoint. The issue of freedom of movement is a central one, because apart from its obvious influence on daily life, it relates to efforts to revive commerce and normal economic activity on the West Bank.

Further reading – BICOM Analysis: The Quartet Statement and its Context