Abu Dis, Container (Wadi Nar), Thu 26.6.08, Afternoon
Wadi Nar
The road was almost impossible because of the huge amount of policemen and the stuck traffic lights that resulted from the "Pride Parrade". We found a completely ruined checkpoint, and again they gave us the explanation that they are building a more convenient checkpoint.
A soldier makes one of the passengers enter the car and wait for his documents very rudely. He does not answer our questions at all. In general, we find this soldier very rude. The commander of the checkpoint gives us explanations about the building there, and he is very polite. When we ask about the way the workers go through – there is no caroussel and nothing – he explains that they let people through slowly slowly, and do it in the best possible way.
Minivans are waiting for the workers near the ruins and not down the road. Until 5 very few workers went through.
In El-Ezariye, like in Jerusalem, there were many traffic jams.
Abu Dis / Lazarus gate (formerly The Wicket)
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Abu Dis / Lazarus Checkpoint/Gate (east of the former “wicket”)
Construction of the wall in the Abu Dis area blocked all the gaps that allowed people to cross from al-Ezariya to the neighbourhoods of Abu Dis and Ras al 'Amud that are located within Jerusalem’s municipal boundary. The Lazarus checkpoint is a gate in the wall adjacent to the Lazarus Monastery. Until 2011 it had a door for pilgrims to al-Ezariya and for the monastery’s kindergarten pupils from al-Ezariya. The crossing is currently closed, but the site has infrastructure for conducting inspections.
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Container (Wadi Nar)
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Wadi Nar Checkpoint ("Container", "The Kiosk") - a barrier for vehicles in Area B that is regularly manned - east of Abu Dis between Sawahra A Sharqiya and Bethlehem and its daughters. Controls Palestinian movement between the north and south West-Bank. Includes driving routes, access roads, spikes, traffic lights and signs. There is no pedestrian crossing. Open 24 hours a day with random checks enhanced on security alerts. The checkpoint is in Palestinian territory, allowing for separation between the north and the south Palestinian areas when necessary.
In 2015, the leading road from Azaria to Bethlehem was renovated, as well as the steep and narrow ascent to the Wadi Nar checkpoint, which was dangerously travelled in both directions! The temporary checkpoint was renovated and expanded, and pedestrian traffic was banned. From 2016, traffic travelling from the south bank to Azaria was directed to a one-way road near the Southern Keydar Jewish settlement.
Machsomwatch shifts visit this far-fetched checkpoint only occasionally.
(updated to July 2019)
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