Major Delays and Invasive Inspections at the Beit Furik Checkpoint
- ACRI
- Apr 9
- 2 min read
On April 9, 2025, we approached the IDF commander in the West Bank together with Bimkom – Planners for Planning Rights, demanding that the strict movement restrictions at the Beit Furik checkpoint be eased. The checkpoint is positioned at the only entrance to the villages of Beit Furik and Beit Dajan, which have a combined population of about 23,000 residents. Since the beginning of the war, anyone passing through the checkpoint must go through a comprehensive search. The result is extreme traffic congestion and very long waiting times at the checkpoint, ranging from 4 to 8 hours. Recently, the inspection has been intensified for young people, who must also undergo invasive phone searches at the checkpoint and are required to undress.
In the appeal, Attorney Hila Sharon from the Association for Civil Rights and Diana Yousef Mradi-Atari from Bimkom describe the infringement on the right of the residents of the villages to freedom of movement, which consequently also deprives them of their rights to livelihood, education, health, religious practices, and family life; the overly-extensive and invasive searches also violate their rights to dignity and humane treatment. The petition also argues that the movement restrictions are unreasonable and disproportionate, majorly disrupting the daily routines of residents, isolating them from their surroundings, and potentially endangering their lives if they need access to emergency services—all of which goes against the duty of the IDF commander in the West Bank to protect the rights and enable the normal routines of the village residents. The appeal also notes that there is serious doubt regarding the necessity of strict inspections at this location, as it is a road connecting two Palestinian villages located within Area B (settlements inhabited solely by a Palestinian population), with no justification for restricting movement between them. However, even assuming such a security need exists, the IDF still has an obligation to give significant weight to the rights of residents when imposing checkpoints and searches.
Appeal by ACRI and Bimkom, April 9, 2025 (Heb)
