Palestinian security sources said that the Israeli Army closed that Atarah checkpoint, built on the northern edge of Bir Zeit town, since the early hours of Saturday. The checkpoint links Ramallah with northern cities of Nablus, Tulkarm, Qalqilyah and Jenin.

The sources said that the soldiers manning the checkpoint barred hundreds of Palestinian vehicles from passing.

According to the sources, the Palestinian passengers "were forced to use alternative roads to reach their destinations."

The sources said that the Israeli forces also closed the military checkpoint near the West Bank village of Al-Nabi Saleh, to the northwest of Ramallah.

Fathallah Al-Tamimi, a peace activist from Al-Nabi Saleh, said that the Israeli soldiers closed the two military checkpoints to thwart a rally in the village, the Popular Committee Against the Wall in northern Ramallah villages called for.

Al-Tamimi added that an Israeli citizen was arrested after trying to enter the village despite the imposed closure.

He added that dozens of Israeli and foreign activists managed to enter the village by avoiding Israeli checkpoints.

Israel started the construction of the eight-meter-height cement wall in 2002. It said that the wall is to prevent Palestinian militants from infiltrating into Israel and carry out deadly bombing attacks.

Since 2005, regular Friday non-violent demonstrations are taking place against the wall in Bil'in, Ni'lin, Deir Nizam and Al-Nabi Saleh, to the west of Ramallah, Om Salamonah and al-Mi'sarah, to the south of Bethlehem.

Two Palestinian activists have been killed in clashes with Israeli forces in Bil'in Ni'lin. Hundreds of Palestinian, Israeli and foreign activists were wounded and arrested in the protests. Several foreign activists were arrested and expelled for their participation in the anti-wall protests.

Israeli Supreme Court decided in September 2007 that the construction of the wall causes severe damages to residents of the village and demanded the government map out alternative route for the wall.

In 2004, the international court in The Hague ruled the wall "illegal" and called on Israel to demolish it. Israel rejected the decision.