To the Editor:
Rachel Brown and Chelsea Sharon's column ("Checkpointless," Dec. 1) misses the fact that Israel needs to use checkpoints to save the lives of its citizens and is succeeding at that objective every day. Without the issue of security at the forefront of this dialogue, the Brown community will be unable to piece together the many facets of this lamentable situation. Indeed, checkpoints are regrettable, and Palestinians certainly suffer the consequences of individual terrorists. But checkpoints are not pointless.
Israel does not want to use checkpoints for many reasons, but specifically because the lives of its youth who serve in the army are threatened. Yet members of terrorist organizations such as Hamas, Islamic Jihad and al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade operate within the West Bank and Gaza, cross into Israel and target civilians. In well-documented cases, militants have feigned sickness and have hidden in ambulances to gain access into Israel to carry out attacks. Last April, a woman pretending to be pregnant was arrested for planning to carry out a suicide bombing. These are not isolated incidents. Such tactics have forced Israeli guards to stop and screen all those entering Israel from the West Bank and Gaza for weaponry and explosives.
The number of attacks thwarted by the checkpoint system highlights its effectiveness. From January to August, 90 of 101 attempted attacks were prevented.
Checkpoints are a burden and an unfortunate reality in the lives of Palestinians. But I would not call them unreasonable given Israel's severe terror concerns.
Jeffrey Yoskowitz '07Dec. 1
