Abu Dis, Container (Wadi Nar), Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal), Sheikh Saed, Tue 11.12.07, Afternoon
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We got to the Zeitun crossing at about 14:15. There were few people heading in either direction and all that we saw go in, from both directions, emerged quickly enough so we assume that all was going well. The inside is now totally blocked from view.
We continued on to Abu Dis, passing by a flying checkpoint. Abu Dis is a total ghost town. We went up to the Cliff Hotel and looked out at the Moskowitz settlement. Nothing seems to have changed there. We saw no people around, the blinds on the house were down and the place looked unoccupied. There was a collection of junk outside the house, but no sign of activity.
There are all kinds of changes at Sheikh Said. The soldier's inspection booth was moved to the opposite side of the road. The boulders that used to block the entry to Sheikh Said have been removed and, theoretically, it would be possible to drive into Sheikh Said (for the first time in years) if one is able to get through the two gates that have been erected there.
There were 6 personnel there — four private security guards and 2 border police. Quite an outlay considering that during the whole time we were there, not one person passed through in either direction!
We went to Wadi Naar via the road near the Zeitun crossing and Al Ezariah. There was no checkpoint at the entry. There was an enormous amount of traffic at Wadi Naar. Literally hundreds of vehicles headed toward Bethlehem and about a third of that number heading the other direction.
At the same time, hundreds of workers returning home descended upon the checkpoint. One border policeman (who was singularly thoughtful toward some old people who were crossing over) was checking i.d.'s of workers, waving cars through from both directions, checking passengers on a bus and generally maintaining the checkpoint.
After a few minutes, two more border police came out and helped with directing traffic and apparently one other was checking i.d.'s inside. With all this going on, there were at most four border police.
At Sheikh Said, where crossing has been kept to an absolute minimum, there were 6 personnel. Is something wrong with this picture?
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 TuegAug-5-2026Jerusalem. Poster in memory of Khalil
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