Abu Dis, Container (Wadi Nar), Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal), Sheikh Saed, Thu 3.7.08, Morning
Four soldiers are at the check point, 1 checking documents, 3 sitting aside, "unemployed". Traffic is sparse. The usual routine: whenever a Palestinian comes down for the checking of documents the rest wait up the hill. There is no line waiting. Individuals dribble in and the check is fast. One Palestinian arrived carrying a water container wrapped in a colourful cloth. He was asked to open the container to check if it was indeed water.
6:55 Zeitim Crossing
We found a very quiet checkpoint on arrival, almost no line as far as we could see. Two ecumenical representatives on the Palestinian side of the check point later crossed to the Israeli side and they too said it was a very quiet day. Their crossing took c. 10 minutes because their passports were checked, they were asked who they were and what their business was. They were allowed to cross only after a telephone inquiry. A Palestinian who crossed greeted us and said that few were crossing today because of yesterday's attack. A woman too came up and told that she was coming from Al Ezarya, her home, on her way to her workplace, an old age home for women in Beit Hanina. She has to take 3 buses to reach her destination. The few men crossing are, as usual, buckling their belts.
7:50 Wadi Nar — The Container
When we arrived there were long queues and 5 detained vehicles. Duration of detention lasted 5-15 minutes because checked documents were returned only after a large number had piled up, and then several vehicles are released simultaneously. We saw two women taken off the detained transit and asked to come to the soldier who stood under the canopy. There was a short discussion. When we came closer, we saw another woman standing opposite 2 military policemen under the same canopy. One was saying she was on her way to Jordan. Later we did not see any more women summoned in our presence. At some point a soldier forbade travel to the road going down, beyond the grocery, and directed all the traffic to Sawahara.
To our inquiry for the reason we got no answer — as though we were air. Suddenly a military police jeep appeared on the road from the direction of the wadi, and when we parked near the check-point all the traffic was again redirected to the road behind the grocery. The jeep was travelling against the direction permitted. But of course the lords of the earth must not be obstructed in their movements and the children must move aside. Three pedestrians who wished to cross and catch a taxi on the other side were sent back to Sawahara, to catch one there. As usual, we were asked to move away from the checkpoint "for our safety". At 8:50 we left
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.
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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)
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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.
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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.
Anat TuegMar-28-2025Jerusalem: Ronit against the backdrop of stalls on the steps of the Nablus Gate
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