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Abu Dis, Container (Wadi Nar), Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal), Sheikh Saed, Mon 21.7.08, Morning

Tags: Detainees
Observers: Rina R., Maya B. (reporting)
Jul-21-2008
| Morning

6:am –  we decided  to check  again  on  Sheih  Saed,  where we have not  been  for a while.The  place  gets  fortified  more  and  more   and  it  seems  that  it  is just  ment  to keep people out as  much  as   possible.  Very few  people  were  waiting  to come in  and  it  moved  fairly  fast.  The  place  just looks  terrible. One  worker told us  there are 300  men  coming  in every day.  Half  of them  with blue IDs  and the other half  with  permits.  The  army  has different  numbers.


 

We  moved  on  to Wadi  Naar.  The  CP  is  never  just  a routine  procedure.  A few  taxies  were  waiting ,  some  claimed  they were there for an hour and  a half.  More  taxies  came  and  some  were detained  for  a  short  time   and  some  for  a long.  The  soldiers  from the BP, were not  willing  to explain to us  why   they  detained  some  for so long.  In  general  the atmoshere  was  tense  and   very  unfriendly   to  all .  The  Palestinien  felt  very  belligerant  and  we felt  very  frustrated.  Some  drivers  and  their passengers  complained  bitterly  for being  late  to  where they  were going  and  having  had  to  identify themselves    three  times.


 

Generally  the  situation  was very discouraging  and  seemed  never  ending. 

We  decided  to check  on  the  Zeitun  terminal  from  within.  It  was   empty.  By  8:am  there  is hardly  a soul  coming  in.  The  drivers  who  take  people  on the little  buse  to  their  destination  claimed  it  is  all over  before  7.  It  seems to me  that  unless we  can  be  at the CP  at  6am  we  hardly  have  anything  to  report  , except  in  Wadi  Naar,  which  is   in the  heart  of Palestinien  territory The crucial  hours  are  5-6:30  in the morning

  • 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.

  • Container (Wadi Nar)

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    •  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)

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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.

  • Sheikh Sa'ed

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    • 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.

      נבי סמואל. כך נראים המגורים בכפר מובלעת בלי היתרי בנייה או שיפוץ
      Anat Tueg
      May-20-2026
      Nabi Samwil. This is what living conditions look like in an enclave village without building or renovation permits
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