traffic jams, brake failure, and fatal accidents are common occurrences. It is particularly dangerous in wintertime, when water or frost on the road make vehicles prone to skidding or slipping, increasing the potential for accidents.194 Such conditions induce anxiety and stress, and frequently cause Palestinians to reconsider travel plans, exacerbating their feelings of isolation. It also causes considerable wear and tear on vehicles, which adds to the overall economic cost of transportation and local commerce in the West Bank. 195 Second, the infamous ‘Container’ checkpoint, which sits at one end of Wadi al-Nar, enables Israel to shut down or delay travel between the north of the West Bank and the south at any desired time. This checkpoint was originally constructed due to its proximity to several colonies, namely Ma’ale Adumim and Kedar, before becoming a permanently fortified checkpoint in June 2004,196 with restricted traffic lanes, controlled access roads, road spikes, traffic lights, road signs, and permanently staffed Israeli soldiers.197 The checkpoint is only accessible to Palestinians and does nothing to govern Palestinian access to Israeli-controlled areas. Nevertheless, the Israeli military are in full control of who is and is not allowed to cross, and the fully armed soldiers subject Palestinians to humiliating circumstances, long delays and arbitrary closures. Based on this, the previous governor of Bethlehem, Jibril al-Bakri, expressed a widely held view that “the checkpoint exists solely for political reasons and has no grounding in security necessities.”198 When closed, it cuts one-third of the West Bank from the other, subjecting both parts of the West Bank to complete lockdown.199 Third, this route almost doubles the distance between Bethlehem and Ramallah (50.3 km) than the more direct Route 60 through Jerusalem (31.8 km). 200 The notable increase in travel time and distance between Bethlehem and Ramallah has an adverse effect on trade between these two key economic cities.201 Travel expenses dramatically increase when the excessive fuel expenditures, combined with the increased distance, steep inclines, regular traffic congestion and arbitrary checkpoint closures are 194 Hanna Maoh and Jad Isaac, supra 192, 18-29. 195 Ibid. 196 Ibid. 197 B’Tselem, supra 173. 198 "Israel Sets Up Iron Gates at Container Checkpoint,” Ma’an News Agency, 25 February 2015. 199 Jalal Abukhater, “Palestine’s Other Open-Air Prison,” Aljazeera, 13 February 2019, available at: https:// www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/palestine-open-air-prison-190118065003667.html [accessed 28 February 2020]. 200 Hanna Maoh and Jad Isaac, supra 192, 18-29. 201 Ibid. 57