Container (Wadi Nar), Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal), Sheikh Saed, Sun 7.10.07, Morning
Sheikh Saed:
06:45 – The soldiers are busy with an improvised fence that seems to fall beside the narrow road. Their aim is to prevent parking near the checkpoint. In the checkpoint people go through without any problem, under the observing eye of the commander of the region who is in site and makes passage easy.
While the area is under construction for a permanent building (that was given permission lately by the Supreme Court), there is only a narrow and stony path left at the end of the area, and people can pass there to both sides – one person at a time. It is true that the buldozers are supposed to arrive, but in the meanwhile all the area is open, and the passage way is impossibley narrow and rocky, to the point of insulting the population. And of course there can happen unfavorable falls. There is no justification to those conditions.
On the way to Ras El Amud we bump into run-over-cats, and a lot of garbage on the sides of the road. Why doesn't the municipality of Jerusalem takes away the garbage here more often? The sight is simply disgusting.
The Container:
08:00 – An impressive mission of hight officers and their helping team and drivers is in the place. They do not even look at us, not to mention answer our "Shalom" (hallo). We don't know if they are here in order to examin some way of good will act towards the Palestinians before the talkes or in order to check the possibility of some permanent changes here too. In any case, the traffic flows and there are no detains ore vehicles being checked.
Zeitim CP:
09:00 – Despite Ramadan there are almost no people passing. A group of students with Palestinian documents from El-Kuds university in Abu-Dis, 17-18 years of age, ask for our help to go to El-Aksa. There in no chance, answers Elisha. The rule is to let go only women above 40, and also people with blue ID's, or severe humanitairian cases. We suggest that they go to the Palestinian DCO and try and ask to go through tomorrow – maybe things will change, but they give up. They wanted to go today. A big dispappointment for them.
Container (Wadi Nar)
See all reports for this place-
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)
-
Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal)
See all reports for this place-
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.
-
Sheikh Sa'ed
See all reports for this place-
A checkpoint limited to pedestrians, located on Jerusalem’s municipal boundary.
The checkpoint sits on the separation fence at the entrance to Sheikh Sa’ad, dividing it from its neighbourhood of Jabel Mukkabar. It’s manned by Border Police soldiers and private security companies and operates 24 hours a day. Palestinians are forbidden to go through, other than residents of Jabel Mukkabar or Sheikh Sa'ad who have permits. Both groups are permitted through only on foot. Residents of East Jerusalem who don’t live in Jabel Mukkabar are also allowed to cross to Sheikh Sa’ad, but not in the opposite direction; they must return through the Sawahira ash Sharqiya checkpoint.
Anat TuegMay-20-2026Nabi Samwil. This is what living conditions look like in an enclave village without building or renovation permits
-