to move up and down
Mati Milstein / Photojournalist
Shooting across the Palestinian territories and Israel for global media outlets, diplomatic missions, NGOs & private clients.
"The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera."
Gaza, a retrospective (II)
Palestinian school children walk home past an Israeli settlement in the southern Gaza Strip in 2005.
Drop your weapon
An Israeli infantry soldier rests during military operations in the occupied Palestinian Gaza Strip in 2000. This image appears in my non-fiction book My New Middle East, which was a finalist for the 2012 New Mexico-Arizona Book Award.
Nablus sector, 2009
An Israeli infantry soldier pauses during a patrol in the northern West Bank.
Another Brick in the Wall
Israeli soldiers stop a Palestinian youth seeking to enter Nablus through one of the military checkpoints surrounding the West Bank city.
Walking the Line
An Israeli infantry soldier takes part in night maneuvers near the country’s northern border.
The Shadows
Israeli infantry soldiers participate in night exercises near the country’s northern border.
Killing Time II
Israeli soldiers wait near the Gaza Strip border in anticipation of a ground invasion during the November conflict.
Israeli and Hamas Continue Fighting Via Rockets and Bombings
Israeli soldiers take cover as they fire an Iron Dome intercept rocket in southern Israel as Hamas fires rockets into Israel from the Gaza Strip, November 19, 2012. International peace efforts continue to stop the fighting. UPI/Mati Milstein
Prelude to War?
Hamas fires rockets across the border from the northern Gaza Strip as the Israeli military continues to launch air strikes on the coastal territory, on Thursday, 15 November, 2012.
“Soldier, your eyes, they shine like the sun. I wonder why.”
Israeli soldiers take cover during clashes with Palestinian protesters near the Qalandiya checkpoint between Jerusalem and Ramallah.
FLASHBACK: Home Invasion
An Israeli army officer stands in the staircase of a partially-constructed Palestinian house that was commandeered in al-Arroub refugee camp in 2001.
Get Down. And Stay Down.
An Israeli Border Police officer fires a tear gas grenade at protesters in the West Bank Palestinian village of Bil’in. Local resident Jawaher Abu Rahmah later died after inhaling large amounts of gas during the protest.
RETRO 2010: The Year in Pictures / Audio slideshow
Click here for an audio slideshow of photographs I shot in Israel and the Palestinian Authority during 2010. (Music by Le Trio Joubran)
Whistling In The Dark
Former Israeli army chief of staff and defense minister Shaul Mofaz addresses a gathering of young Israeli political leaders outside of Tel Aviv.
Checkpoint: Ramadan
QALANDIYA, West Bank - Tens of thousands of Palestinian Muslim worshippers travelled from Ramallah to Jerusalem on 13 August, 2010, for prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque to mark the first Friday of the holy month of Ramadan.
Photos and story by Mati Milstein
Israeli security forces were deployed en masse at the main Qalandiya checkpoint between Ramallah and Jerusalem, and additional temporary inspection points for men and women were set up to handle the large number of Palestinian pilgrims crossing on foot.
Palestinian Red Crescent medical personnel, in coordination with the Israeli military, were on hand at the checkpoint to assist the infirm and elderly en route to Jerusalem. There was also a presence of armed Palestinian security officers facilitating the passage of the worshippers into Jerusalem, and one Palestinian officer was seen examining identification documents at the Israeli-run checkpoint alongside Israeli soldiers.
The atmosphere at the ordinarily hectic crossing point was largely quiet and subdued throughout the morning, likely due to a heavy Israeli, Palestinian and foreign media presence together with close coordination between Israeli and Palestinian Authority forces.
Maan News Agency reported before the start of the holiday that the head of Israel’s Civil Administration, Yoav Mordechai, issued orders to Israeli troops serving at West Bank checkpoints not to eat, drink or smoke in order to ensure “the utmost respect for Palestinians during Ramadan.”
Palestinian worshippers from Ramallah board Jerusalem-bound buses just outside Qalandiya.
Palestinian worshippers walk to board Jerusalem-bound buses after crossing from Ramallah at dawn.
Palestinian worshippers walk to board Jerusalem-bound buses after crossing from Ramallah at dawn.
A Palestinian woman prays at Qalandiya after crossing into Jerusalem.
Palestinian men en route to Jerusalem after crossing through the Qalandiya checkpoint at dawn.
An Israeli Border Police officer at the Qalandiya checkpoint.
A Palestinian Authority security officer at the Qalandiya checkpoint.
Palestinian women in line to cross through Qalandiya en route to Jerusalem.
A Palestinian woman waiting to cross through the Qalandiya checkpoint.
An Israeli Border Police officer examines the identification documents of a Palestinian family.
A Palestinian woman is denied entry into Jerusalem at the Qalandiya checkpoint.
Palestinian men cross through Qalandiya en route to Jerusalem.
An Israeli soldier checks his equipment behind a concrete shelter at the Qalandiyah checkpoint.
A Palestinian woman holds her identity card as she waits to pass through the Qalandiya checkpoint.
An Israeli Border Police officer stands at an inspection point at Qalandiya.
A Palestinian woman stands with her child after being denied entry by an Israeli Border Police officer at Qalandiya.
An Israeli soldier stands guard at the Qalandiya checkpoint.
Palestinian women wait at Qalandiya to cross into Jerusalem.
A Palestinian boy jokes with an Israeli soldier at the Qalandiya checkpoint.
A Palestinian officer checks identification documents alongside Israeli forces at Qalandiya.
Senior Israeli officers observe the crossing of Palestinian worshippers at Qalandiya checkpoint.
Palestinian women wait to cross via Qalandiyah checkpoint from Ramallah to Jerusalem.
