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Abu Dis, Container (Wadi Nar), Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal), Sheikh Saed, Mon 27.10.08, Morning

Observers: Rina R., Maya B. (reporting)
Oct-27-2008
| Morning

 

 

6:30  we  start  out  by  going  to   Sheikh  Saed.  The  place  seems  more  fortified  each  time  we  go there.  We  apparently  plan  to turn  this  also  into  a  permanent    barrier.  On  our  way  down  we  saw  many  many  children  of  all ages  coming  up  the hill of  Jebel  Mukaber,  and  little  action  at  the  C.P  

Few  workers  with  permits  and  one  or  two  women  with  bags  of  olives  they  had  just  picked  on  the  other  side  where  their  olive  groves  are.  One  of  the  women  was  stopped  despite  the  fact  she  was  carrying  a  blue  I.D.  card.   When  we  tried  to  intervine  on  her behalf  we  were  told  that  she  can  pass but  without   the  two  bags  of  olives  since  she  had  already   transfered  two  or  three  bags  today  and  the  Palestiniens  are  not  aloud  to  bring  into  Israel    COMERCIAL  quantities.  of  olives.  She  waited.  we  argued,  in the end  a Jeep  with  a  B.P.  officer  came  by,  and  he  told  us  they  are  aloud  40kg.  a  day.

She  was  aloud  to  go through.
The  woman ,  in her  fourties,  was  carrying  these  very  heavy  bags   in  order  to  be  able  to   take  them  to the press today.  She  told  us  she  used to have  160  olive trees  and  60  lemon  trees  but  that  the  fence  and  security  road  and    another  road   along  it  were  built  on  her  grove  and  that  now  all she has  left  are  ten  olive  trees and  six  lemon  trees.  She  picked  it  all  in  a  few  days  and  is  now  trying  to  get  it  over  here  to make  her  oil.  But  even  in  that  she  is  being  harassed.

 
So  whoever  goes  to   a  C.P.  where  olives  are  being  brought  in  remember  they  can  take  at  least  40  kg  a  day  into   Israel…..
We  continued  to  Zeitun.  There  we  try  to  always  talk  to the  drivers  on  either  side  of  the C.P.   We  were  told  that  most  of  the  time  there  is  one  open  counter,  only  in  the  early  morning  two,  but  not  all three.  The  DCO  opens  between  8:30  and  9  and  it  can  go  fast  or  take  hours   to  get  through.

Wadi  Na'ar,  fast  moving  taxies  and  cars,  few  are  stopped  but  only  for  5  min.  and  then  let  to  continue.  There  was  an  older  B/P.  man  running  the  show  and  he   was  correct  efficient  and  quick.

  • 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.

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