Back to reports search page

Abu Dis, Container (Wadi Nar), Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal), Sheikh Saed, Mon 2.2.09, Morning

Observers: Rina R., Maya B. (reporting)
Feb-02-2009
| Morning
Mon.  Feb.  2nd  2009

6:30  we  go    to  Sheich  Saed.  The garbage on  the  hill  facing   us  has  grown  considerably.

No  people  come  down  from  the  village,  we  meet  a  few  children  who  came  through.  No  men  women  or  soldiers  to be  seen.

Abu Dis
We  drive  on  through  mounds  of  dirt  and  rubbish
to  Abu Dis. 

A few  BP  men  and  a  jeep  but  no  Palestinies  to be  seen  anywhere. 

So  we  go  on  to  Zeitun.  Here  hell  broke  loose.  Men  coming  out  with  there  belts  in  their  hands  telling  us  it  took  two  hours  to  get  through.  We  still see a  line  inside  and  decide  to go in  like  the  Palestiniens  and  check  what  is  not  working .  A  friendly  blue  policman  tells  us  there  were  some  problems  because  some  men  were  fighting  and  it  was  because  of  the  queue  and  that  he  is  there  to  calm  the  anger.  We  follow  the  line .  It  took  about  10-15  minutes  and  by  then  everyone  was  out.


There  were  a lot  of  tourist  buses  waiting  for  some  groups.

We  drove  to Wadi  Nar.  The  trafic  jam  from  Maale  Hadumim  went  down  the entire  road  to  the  road  to  Jericho.  At  Wadi   Nar  the  trafic  just  went  through  ,  so  we  returned to Jerusalem.

  • Abu Dis / Lazarus gate (formerly The Wicket)

    See all reports for this place
    •  

      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.

  • 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.

      ירושלים, שער שכם: קהל ממהר לתפילה
      Avital C
      Feb-27-2026
      Jerusalem, Damascus Gate: Crowd rushing to prayer
Donate