Checkpoint: Oles for Justice in Palestine host simulation

Today from 11 to 11:30 a.m.  outside of Buntrock Commons, Oles for Justice in Palestine (OJP) held a simulation of an Israeli Military Checkpoint in Palestine. 

Oles were asked to form a line in front of the ‘checkpoint’ and depending on their form of ID (school ID and/or drivers license) they were directed to enter the “Non MN” line (Israelis) or the “MN Resident” (Palestinians) line. OJP members in black clothing and dark sunglasses manned the checkpoint stations – the line for the “MN Resident” or Palestinian line had significantly tighter security, with three women questioning the entering hopefuls – while the “Non MN” or Israeli line was much less daunting, with one man and one woman letting more people pass.

Entering the main line, Oles were asked to show identification to determine which line they would be sent to.

The Israeli line had less security.

Preliminary questions asked by the first OJP member in the Palestinian line included : “What is your name?” What is your middle name?” Where do you live?” Who is your roommate?” If you weren’t detained by the first official (asked to take a seat in the middle of the two lines) questions from the second official/OJP member got tougher: “What are your classes?” “Do you have documentation proving you are taking these classes?” “Do you have documentation proving you are a student at St. Olaf?” “Can you show evidence of your medical records?” Etc. Again, you could be detained. If you made it to the third questioner, you were either denied entrance or allowed to pass based on an arbitrary question, such as “If you have brown eyes, today, I’m sorry but you can’t pass through. All others with blue, green, grey eyes etc. may pass today.”

A student is detained in the Palestinian checkpoint line.

 OJP members/checkpoint officials wore black clothing and dark sunglasses.

Few Oles were detained on the Israeli side, and if they were, they could sit on a bench – Palestinian detainees took a seat on the ground.

OJP members awaited Oles at the end of the simulation to explain its purpose – to raise awareness about the reality of the trying situations Palestinians face at Israeli military checkpoints– and to hand out informational flyers.

Among quotes included on the flyers were: “As Palestinians make their way through dozens of checkpoints operated by soldiers, they are delayed for hours, rerouted to dirt roads, and sometimes turned back altogether on their way to jobs, schools and family visits” – Greg Myre, New York Times.
 
Also: “An increasing number of Palestinians have died after being denied passage through Israeli checkpoints…[There is] a disturbing increase in the number of delays and denials of ambulances at checkpoints” – United Nations News Centre.