Abu Dis, Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal), Fri 19.7.13, Morning
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Second Friday of Ramadan
Olive Terminal
The canopy cast a soft light, the fan sprayed tiny drops of moisture, the pressure was not great, and even the weather this time was benign.
Those of us who remember Ramadan in previous years, find a softer spectacle this year, almost normal. Yet certain things continue to remind us that all is not normal:
The requirement of every male to prove he is who he is, every older child to prove his age and relationship to parents, the arbitrary searches through women's belongings…
A large team of border police, blue police, and representatives of the Civil Administration, man the checkpoint. In front of the first selection point the Red Crescent are stationed, and next to them the Palestinian police. United Nations representatives and the foreign press were also there to watch the spectacle.
Most of the crowd got to cross, but quite a number of the unfortunate (either because too old — over 15 or 16 — or unaccompanied by a parent, or too young — under 40), found themselves milling at the side of the road. Some of them had weekday passes, but for some obscure reason they needed special permits to prove their innocence during Ramadan. How can a person become peace-loving when Israel needs to exploit a man's cheap labour, but finds him increasingly dangerous when he comes to claim his right to worship on the day of his holiday? Security considerations?
Once in a while a group of soldiers came out to push back the frustrated youths. While the Palestinian policemen were around, the youths moved back obediently. When they left, confrontations began. The security guards were lead by a determined border policewoman, gun at the ready, followed by her colleagues, including some of higher rank. The same woman was conspicuously harsh and rude while performing her duties at the checkpoint.
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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Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal)
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A large checkpoint/crossing to the area of a-Tur, Abu Dis and the Old City; only for pedestrians. Located on Jerusalem’s municipal boundary.
One of the major crossings in Jerusalem’s central sector. It is located on the separation fence between the northern portion of the al-Ezariya neighborhood and the neighborhood of a-Tur and the rest of East Jerusalem. It is manned by Border Police soldiers and private security companies and operates 24 hours a day. Palestinians are forbidden to go through, other than permanent residents of East Jerusalem (holders of blue ID cards) and holders of work and commercial permits who are allowed through only on foot.
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