With Israeli invasions ongoing in both Lebanon and Gaza, Palestinians in the West Bank report that Israeli forces have begun tightening already strict procedures that Palestinians must endure at the over 700 Israeli military roadblocks and checkpoints in the West Bank. The already difficult passage between cities in the West Bank has been made extremely difficult, and, for many people, impossible.
The presence of such blockades has made travel among the towns of Qalqilia, Tulkarem, Jenin, Ramallah, and Nablus next to impossible. Those citizens willing to try their luck often get frustrated at the slow and unbearable process.
One of the major Israeli military tactics used in demobilizing Palestinians is restricting the movement of people under the age of 40. It is feared that the continuation of such tactics will render hundreds of Palestinian students unable to reach their universities to complete admission procedures.
While some attempt to blame the recent killing of an Israeli settler near Nablus for the tightening of security at roadblocks, it is evident that such tactics to prevent freedom of movement in the West Bank are not new phenomena
