Def. Min. Barak's Orders Leave IDF at Security "Red Line"
by Hillel Fendel A7News May 05, 2008

Defense Minister Ehud Barak has given orders to remove three critical
anti-terror checkpoints in Judea and Samaria, allowing terrorists to travel
unhindered. The orders were given in compliance with demands by visiting
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, who continually insists that Israel
mollify Palestinian Authority by removing additional security checkpoints.
The IDF generally objects to such gestures.

Arutz-7's defense correspondent Haggai Huberman reports that the three are:
Between Ramallah and Beit El; the southern entrance to Hevron; and north of
Shechem. Each has its own story, as follows.

The Beit El - Ramallah Checkpoint

One of the three is between the large PA-controlled city of Ramallah and
the entry road leading to Beit El, home to nearly 7,000 Jews, including
students of all ages in its various schools.

The IDF expressed strong objections to the removal of this checkpoint. IDF
Central Region Commander Maj.-Gen. Gadi Shamni and Judea/Samaria Region
Division Head Brig.-Gen. Noam Tivon explained to Barak that the removal
would allow free and unhindered Arab traffic on the old north-south highway
to Shechem - adjacent to IDF bases and homes in Beit El.

The IDF officials reminded Barak, to no avail, that shots were fired at Beit
El in the past from this highway. They also told him that the nearby
intersection between Ramallah and Beit El was the site of violent Arab riots
when the Oslo War broke out in late 2000, and at least two separate
lynchings were attempted against Jews there.

IDF Officials: Removing even one more checkpoint will lower the security
level below the "red line" of risk.

Huberman reports that the reason the local Arabs want the checkpoint removed
is not for their convenience, because another north-south road is available
just dozens of meters to the west. Rather, they have a symoblic need to
have their "capital" city of Ramallah to be as open as possible.

"The checkpoints are a most significant factor in the war against
Palestinian terrorism," a top IDF officer told Huberman, "in thwarting
attacks, in catching wanted terrorists, and in intercepting weapons... The
number of checkpoints in Judea and Samaria at present is the absolute
minimum necessary for Israeli security. Taking off even one more will lower
the security level to 'below the red line' of risk."

Northern Exit from Shechem - Open

The second critically strategic checkpoint removed by Barak's orders was
Checkpoint 408, dismantled on Monday at the northern entrance to the
north-Shomron city of Shechem (Nablus).

Barak told the IDF that he needed one checkpoint removed from the Shechem
area, and that the IDF should choose which one. The IDF chose, as the least
of the evils, the only checkpoint that is not situated on a road leading
directly to a Jewish town. Thus, the Hawara checkpoint - whose removal the
Palestinian Authority has long demanded - remains in place, protecting the
Jews of Yitzhar and nearby towns. Similarly, the checkpoint near Shavei
Shomron has not been touched.
However, the removal of the northern Shechem checkpoint effectively ends the
IDF's encirclement of Shechem, which is known as one of the PA's top
terrorism centers. The encirclement prevented the terrorists from leaving
the city freely, and was an important factor in the decrease of
Shechem-based terrorism. Terrorists can now travel freely from Shechem to
Jenin via Tubas, as well as throughout most of the vast expanses of the
northern Shomron.

IDF vehicles traveling east-west between Shavei Shomron and Mt. Eval will
now encounter unchecked potential terrorists traveling on the north-south
route, Huberman notes.

Yata-Hevron Road - Open

A third checkpoint that is about to be removed, at Barak's orders, is
located just south of Hevron, at what is known as Kvasim Junction near the
hostile Arab village of Yata. Though the army did not oppose the opening of
this intersection, it should be remembered that in early 2003, three
soldiers were murdered by terrorists who escaped to Yata via the unprotected
Yata-Hevron route.

The Defense Minister gave the order to remove the checkpoints in accordance
with Secretary Rice's wishes - but in defiance of clear IDF warnings that
shooting attacks against Israeli citizens and soldiers are likely to be
renewed as a result. Senior Central Region officers told Barak directly
that checkpoint removals in the past have led to significant increases in
attacks.