Abu Dis, Sawarhe and Anata checkpoints, Saturday AM 10 Jan 2004MachsomWatch Observers: Ilana K and Nina M (reporting)Summary: Anata checkpoint, staffed by Border Police, should be included among the checkpoints regularly visited by MachsomWatch observer shifts (see below). Abu Dis wall – people who managed to pass to the Western side were sent back.The main road to Bethlehem, Wadi Naar, heavily obstructed by the Sawahre (“Container”) and a sudden checkpoints at Abu Dis University. Anata checkpoint-general information: This checkpoint unifies the life of two refugee camps, Shuafat and Anata. The checkpoint controls the movement of the population westbound towards “Free Shuafat” (Shuafat not closed by the checkpoint) and towards Jerusalem.The Eastern entrance to this area is controlled by frequently installed unannounced roadblock checkpoints. We were told by locals that the most difficult time is between 7 to 9 AM when children go to school to “Free Shuafat” and they are requested to show birth certificates (schools are on holiday vacation and will restart in 3 days) and many men are detained for trying to bypass the checkpoint in search of work.The other difficult time is Friday around 11 AM when people try to go to Jerusalem mosques for prayers. Since the checkpoint is easily bypassed, “manhunts” are frequent and locals said that yesterday a man was killed. All residents of this area have Palestinian ID and they need to have permits to pass through Westbound, but not Eastbound checkpoint. The Westbound checkpoint is under Jerusalem Border Police supervision.Checkpoint observations: 9:30-10:15, Anata checkpoint:Upon our arrival there were 12 detained women at the checkpoint.The checkpoint was staffed by 4 border police (jeep number 22-421) and the commander, Khalifa, who arrived in jeep no 32-565. Their behavior was most vulgar. The soldier with many rings in his tongue had a general tone of aggressiveness towards us.We tried just to get a most basic information about the checkpoint, but the replies were of a kind: “ I don’t want to talk with you!”,“ Who do you think you are?”, “I’ll call the police to take you away.” When asked about medical service to the refugee camp, an answer was “Where do you live? They will come and bomb you.” The question about medical help for people was considered, as if we had asked about medical help for sharks . The borderpolicemen were not ready to identify themselves. (“Why should we? Who are you, anyway?!”) All identifying badges on their sholders were hidden.We want to complain about the behavior of them.The passage of Palestinians, mainly women with children was completely arbitrary, some passed and some not. We tried to make few calls about detained women, but their IDs were returned soon during our stay and we left this place. 10:30-12 AM, Abu Dis-Sawahre: .We entered Azzariye from the Maale Adumim side. There was border police inside Al-Azariye, near the wall on the Western side , Sudden checkpoint near Al-Quds University and the “Container” (Sawahre). People who managed to jump over the wall were forced to climb back again.The threat of throwing tear-gas was real–people talked about it.Sawahre checkpoint:This was staffed by two women BP soldiers who were very interested in our activity, one young IDF soldier who wanted to express his right-wing ideas very much and an older soldier with a calm approach.The movement of taxis and vans was quick. “Suspicious” looking, young men were detained and their IDs checked by the Shin Bet (Security Service), but returned to them in our presence.The older, calm BP soldier explained that the movement through this checkpoint does not require a permit for pedestrians, but for private cars, and not taxis.