Permission to work?

by Suraya Dadoo, The Electronic Intifada

It is 12:30pm at the Nablus area District Civilian Affairs Office (DCO). It is over 40 degrees outside, where a long queue of Palestinians had been waiting in the oppressive heat (some for over three hours) with dust and dirt and no place to sit. They are here to request a permit, formal permission from the Israeli government to travel from the surrounding villages into Nablus to work.

Thousands of Palestinians go through this torture daily in Israeli offices throughout the Occupied Territories (OT) as the Israeli government intensifies restrictions on the movement of Palestinians. Israeli government restrictions on the movement of Palestinians in the OT are terrifyingly reminiscent of apartheid South Africa's pass-laws.

Since March 2002, permits have been required to travel from one district to another. The Gaza Strip - only 30 kilometres long - is divided into three districts itself. The web of permits required has become mind-boggling following the construction of Israel's apartheid-style "security" wall, which divides the West Bank into eight separate and isolated "Bantustans". Apart from work, study and travel permits, some Palestinians even need permission to live in their own homes!

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