Machsom Watch Observer Monitors Qalandia Checkpoint
Tamar Fleishman continues two decades of documenting human rights at West Bank checkpoints.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Judaism
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At 79 years old, Tamar Fleishman remains a consistent presence at the Qalandia checkpoint as part of her long-term work with Machsom Watch. She spends her time observing conditions and interacting with local Palestinian children.
Why it matters
Fleishman acts from a personal sense of responsibility to represent an Israeli perspective that operates without weapons. Her work aims to provide solidarity and document daily human rights conditions in the West Bank.
Machsom Watch was founded in 2001 to monitor human rights at checkpoints. Records include cases such as a 16-month prison sentence served by a youth named Ibrahim for shaking a barrier.
The players
Tamar Fleishman
A 79-year-old member of Machsom Watch who has spent 20 years monitoring checkpoint conditions.
Machsom Watch
An organization founded in 2001 consisting of volunteers who observe and document human rights violations at checkpoints in the West Bank.
Israel Defense Forces
The national military force of Israel that operates security checkpoints throughout the West Bank.
The details
Fleishman, a member of the organization, provides tennis balls, photographs, and conversation to Palestinian children while monitoring the checkpoint between Jerusalem and Ramallah. Her activities persist despite broader regional instability, including a recent shooting in Hebron that left two Israel Defense Forces soldiers and two Palestinian perpetrators dead.
Timeline
2001: Machsom Watch is founded.
October 23, 2026: Two Israel Defense Forces soldiers and two Palestinian perpetrators die in a shooting in Hebron.
October 27, 2026: Tamar Fleishman visits the Qalandia checkpoint.
Culture Shift
This activity follows the pattern of civil monitoring established by the founding of Machsom Watch in 2001. It reflects a shift in grassroots engagement where individuals document human rights conditions to influence public discourse.
For observers and activists, this reflects the time-intensive nature of long-term human rights monitoring in conflict zones. It illustrates how personal daily routines are shaped by the political and security realities of the West Bank.
The takeaway
Individual commitment to observing human rights remains a cornerstone of grassroots activism. Volunteers can implement change by maintaining a persistent and documented presence in their communities.
Further reading
Learn more about community engagement and religious perspectives in Judaism.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 경향신문.
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