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The Israeli Ministry of Defense Expands HP’s Biometric System in Checkpoints

The Israeli Ministry of Defense has expanded the use of Hewlett-Packard’s Basel biometric identification system to additional checkpoints in the occupied West Bank.

In 2011, the Basel system was installed in the following checkpoints: Jericho, Bethlehem (Ma'avar Rachel), Jenin, Nablus, Tulkarem, Hebron, Abu Dis, Tarkumia and the Ephraim Gate (Sha'ar Efraim, Irtach); and in the Erez checkpoint in Gaza.

According to a response by the Israeli Ministry of Defense to a freedom of information inquiry, received by Who Profits on the 22 January 2015, HP's Basel biometric identification system was installed in additional checkpoints in the West Bank. These checkpoints now include: Jalame (Gilboa), Barta'a (Rihan), Tura (Shaked), Eyal, Eliyahu, Yoav, Hashmonaim (Ni'lin), Macabim (Beit Sira), Al-Jib (Givat Ze'ev), Qalandia (Atarot), Ras Abu-Sbitan (Hazietim), Halamed He and Sansana (Meitar).

HP developed, installed and maintained the Basel System in checkpoints in the occupied West Bank and Gaza. This automated biometric access control system, which was financed by the US government following the Wye River Memorandum, includes hand and facial recognition and a permit system for Palestinians. For more information about the system, see Who Profits' 2012 report: Technologies of control.

Who Profits recently received and published a response by the Israeli Ministry of Defense to a freedom of information inquiry, according to which HP was contracted to provide maintenance and on-going field support of the Basel System in the checkpoints until the end of 2015.