Abu Dis, Sawahre Tue. 02.11.04 p.m.Observers: Julia W., Chana G., Rina H., Rahel W. (reporting)At about 1:45, just as we were about to go to Abu Dis, I received a call from one of the Ecumenical observers saying that people were not being allowed to return to Jerusalem from the other side of the wall. When we arrived at the pishpash gate, we were horrified to find coiled barbed wire at a distance of about 2 meters from the wall, more barbed wire all along the top of the wall and along the fence of the street leading to it. All means of climbing, jumping, scaling were gone. We were told that the barbed wire was put up the day before. People wanting to go to the other side had to go by way of the monastery. There were two border police at the gate of the monastery, and another two guards much further in where there is another gate allowing the people to go to and from Abu Dis. Obviously, in the morning, prior to 10:00 a.m., people from Jerusalem were allowed to go to school, work, etc. in Abu Dis, but when they wanted to return, they were not allowed to do so. They were told to go by way of Az-Za’ayyem. We tried desperately to contact someone from the army or border police — it was already getting late and people wanted to get home, but we got either busy signals or no answer at all. A feeling of utter impotence. We went up to the Hotel, and found out that all the people who were denied passage at the monastery had taken taxis to the other side of town and were crossing via the Hotel. It cost time, money, and effort — but they found a way. Near the Hotel, there was a deep trench being dug. God only knows what for.We got to Sawahre rather late because we were so delayed in Abu Dis. The traffic from Jerusalem south went very quickly with scarcely any check. Traffic from the other direction was more carefully checked and the line moved very slowly. Private vehicles (as opposed to commercial ones and taxis) were stopped and documents checked. There were some detainees (pedestrian) but the b.p.’s were on the phone the whole time we were there and people were released relatively quickly.