Atlantic Monthly Article on Checkpoints is Fair

By Published On: February 17, 2006

There is a lengthy article by Ted Conover entitled “Checkpoints” in the March issue of the Atlantic Monthly. I found it to be informative and balanced. The reporter experienced the checkpoints with Israelis and then with Palestinians. While he inaccurately called the settlements “illegal,” he presented the Israeli perspective clearly and in human terms, as he did with the Palestinians. He did appear to feel more for the Palestinians, inserting his own opinion of their “humiliation” etc., but overall I thought it was a fair article. He made it very clear that for Israelis it’s all about security, that the checkpoints are effective in catching terrorists, that the Israeli soldiers don’t enjoy the work, and that when one of them gets abusive, he is subjected to punishment and court martial.

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