Palestinian and His 2 Children in Day's Toll
Military checkpoints that dot the West Bank and Gaza Strip have come to embody the great divide between the two peoples since the start of the present conflict last September.

The effect of the blockades is to keep Palestinians virtually locked in their towns and villages for long stretches, making it difficult for them to get to work or even to go on simple excursions like shopping trips.

To Israel, the checkpoints are a necessary security measure, given the squads of suicide bombers that radical Islamic groups say are poised to attack Israeli cities. But Palestinians see only collective punishment. Inevitably, many of them look for ways around the barricades, finding them on back roads and paths that are also known to the Israelis, who often turn a blind eye. Mr. Abu Lawi was taking such a route today when the soldiers opened fire, killing him and wounding five other Palestinians.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/20/international/middleeast/20MIDE.html?pagewanted=all