Israeli forces Tuesday morning installed a steel gate at the main northeastern entrance of Ein Yabrood village, east of Ramallah, following clashes that erupted there on Monday. This came a day after clashes that erupted between army soldiers and the village locals, where the former used tear gas canisters, and concussion grenades against locals. No injuries were reported. Locals were reported as saying that the gate, which was installed early Tuesday morning, prevented Palestinian locals' traffic movement, which forced them to take long alternative routes to access Ramallah city and neighboring villages. On October 27, forces installed a similar metal gate at the main entrance leading to the village of Ni'lin to the northwest of Ramallah. Israeli forces have imposed severe restrictions on Palestinians' freedom of movement within the West Bank through a complex network of fixed and flying checkpoints, roads forbidden to Palestinians and open to Jewish settlers and various other physical obstructions. This has effectively enabled Israel to turn the West Bank into cantons and obstruct the Palestinians' access to areas where it seeks greater control. It has also resulted in real hardships and constant uncertainty in Palestinians' lives in terms of everyday tasks such as getting to work or school or visiting relatives. "These restrictions reflect Israel's approach over the years that freedom of movement is not a right, but a privilege that Israel may grant or deny as it sees fit," said the Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem in an online report on the restriction of movement.
