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Machsom Watch monitors several Israeli checkpoints every morning and afternoon during the periods of highest traffic to protest the checkpoints and to protect the rights of individual Palestinians who must pass through them. All of the volunteers for Machsom Watch (machsom means checkpoint in Hebrew) are Israeli women.  The organization began in January 2001 with 3 women, and has since grown to 300 volunteers.  

Monitors view the checkpoints as a violations of human rights, restricting the right to free movement and hence the rights to education, medical treatment, and the right to work for Palestinians. The monitors perform three primary functions at the checkpoints: They prevent abuses at the checkpoints, they document abuses that they witness and they show solidarity with the Palestinian people.

The very presence of Israeli women at the checkpoints discourages some soldiers from abusing the people passing through the checkpoints, according to both the monitors and Palestinians. When soldiers try to keep people from crossing or confiscate ID cards, monitors quietly but assertively intervene when they think it could make a difference. When they witness serious violations, they often complain to higher-ranking army officials and encourage Palestinians to do the same.

Monitors who witness abuses make detailed reports and publish them on their web site. They also invite journalists, politicians and others to join them at the checkpoints.

Monitors also wear tags that read in Arabic “No to the checkpoints!” This show of support is heartening to many Palestinians, who may not have a positive image of Israelis.

Machsom Watch has faced several challenges in its work. There are many checkpoints and not enough monitors to cover them all.  Volunteers admit the army does not feel committed to report to the monitors, or necessarily acknowledge them.  This is exacerbated by the fact that Israeli soldiers are rotated into and out of their positions fairly frequently, so the monitors are not able to develop a relationship with them.  Some of their work begins all over again with each new rotation of soldiers. So far, Machsom Watch has not succeeded in its broader goal of ending the occupation and the removal of checkpoints.  However, it has helped to make the Israeli public and people all over the world more aware of the abuses occurring at the checkpoint.

The physical presence of an individual is often more effective when it is backed by an influential network that can move information quickly to a large number of people or to the right people in key positions of influence.  Machsom Watch uses the internet to share their monitoring experiences more widely and to raise awareness among Israelis and the international community.

Image: Raheli Bar-Or of Machsom Watch keeps an eye on an Israeli solider as Palestinians pass through the army's Jubara checkpoint near the West Bank town of Tulkarem.  Found at http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/3192/the_checkpoint_women_of_israel/