Civilian checkpoint

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Checkpoint near Abu Dis, the West Bank.

A search conducted by the British at the entrance to Tel-Aviv in 1940s.

Civilian checkpoints are distinguishable from border or frontier checkpoints in that they are erected and enforced within contiguous areas under military or paramilitary control. Civilian checkpoints have been employed within conflict-ridden areas all over the world to monitor and control the movement of people and materials in order to prevent violence.

[edit] Contemporary examples of checkpoints

Though practices and enforcement vary, checkpoints have been used in:

The former Yugoslavia during Yugoslav Wars,
Northern Ireland by the OIRA and the UK Army.
Colombia, by military and paramilitary forces.
Palestinian territories, by the Israeli Defence Force

[edit] Effects of checkpoints

Checkpoints typically lead to hardship for the affected civilians, though these effects range from inconvenience to mortal danger. Bir Zeit University, for example, has conducted several studies highlighting the effects of checkpoints in the Palestinian territories [1] [2] [3]

In Colombia, the paramilitary forces of the AUC have, according to Amnesty International, imposed limits on the food entering villages, with over 30 people being killed at the checkpoint in one instance.[4]