Since the early 1990s, Israel has restricted Palestinian
movement in the West Bank. Prior to the second intifada, the
restrictions were primarily intended to prevent Palestinians
from entering Israel and East Jerusalem. During the second
intifada, Israel established dozens of checkpoints and hundreds
of physical obstructions inside the West Bank, including dirt
mounds, concrete blocks, and trenches, and began construction of
the Separation Barrier and its crossing gates. These
restrictions are unprecedented in the history of the Israeli
occupation in terms of the scope, duration, and severity of harm
to the daily lives of Palestinians living in the West Bank. In
2009, Israel reduced the number of checkpoints and obstructions
in the West Bank, but as of February 2012, B'Tselem still
counted 98 checkpoints in the West Bank, including: 16 military
posts in the area of Hebron in which Israeli settlements have
been established (H-2), which restrict Palestinian movement into
and out of the area. 41 positions serve