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Abu Dis, Container (Wadi Nar), Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal), Sheikh Saed, Thu 29.3.12, Morning

Observers: Rahel M., Netta A., Michaela R. (reporting)
Mar-29-2012
| Morning

  

 
Generally: there is a deterioration at the Olive Terminal; the lines are long and so is the waiting time.
 
 
6:10 Sheikh Saed
 
There are c.10 persons in the corridor, children cross without standing in line.  The inspection of adult documents is very slow.
 
Two pupils wait in front of the turnstile to enter into Sheikh Saed, but the personnel in the booth don't notice them until alerted by someone crossing.  In order to let them pass, the routine checks are interrupted, the pupils are asked a number of questions before they depart and the checkpoint returns to routine.
 
7:00 Olive Terminal
 
Some 50 wait in front of the outside turnstile, with long and closely packed lines in the corridors inside. The turnstiles open from time to time.
 
At around 7:15 the outside turnstiles begin to open more frequently, and at 7:30 the outside turnstile opens for pupils.  By 7:40 the line disappears, but inside dozens still wait at each checking booth. The time of crossing, from arrival to inspection is around 30 minutes.
 
We directed a man whose brother is prevented by the Operations Departmet ("Ag'am") to the team that deals with overturning such prevention.
 
8:20 Wadi Nar
 
On arrival we found two vehicles, headed for Bethlehem, detained.  One was quickly released, the other took longer. A detainee, very young, remained in the shelter.
 
Later more taxis headed for Bethlehem are detained, mostly for a few moments.
 
When we realized we couldn't assist the detainee, we moved away from the checkpoint.  From a distance, we saw him led to the booth. We returned to see him taken back to the shelter.  It wasn't clear whether our presence prolonged the detention or prevented a harsher treatment of the detainee.
 

  • 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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