Abu Dis, Container (Wadi Nar), Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal), Sheikh Saed, Wed 10.3.10, Afternoon
2:00 – 5:00 PM
The numbered street in Nof Zion still has no name.
Sheikh Saed
The garbage in Sheikh Saed looked worse with the exuberantly blooming wild flowers which seemed out of place (Which? The flowers, or the garbage?).
There were four border policemen and four civilian guards on duty, but they didn’t seem to be doing anything. They didn’t even stop us; it was probably too hot.
Seven young men were loitering near the shuttered shops, hoping against better wisdom to find some employment. They could have cleaned up some of the mess, but they lack energy and initiative.
Pishpash
At the pishpash a huge cement mixer was blocking all view. There were no soldiers in sight. Everything was locked and except for a number of Palestinian workers putting finishing touches to the ever-more sophisticated CP.
There was one Jewish supervisor driving a car with the sign “maintenance of the obstruction of the seam-line אחזקת מכשול התפר” another newly whitewashed and rather incomprehensible phrase. A boy was playing football and one of the workers kicked the ball back to him.
Zeitim Terminal
There were quite a few cars (without drivers) parked at the Western side of the Zeitim Terminal, when we asked some of people for the reason, since they were clearly not there to pick up people who had passed the CP we got no clear answer.
Two soldiers didn’t pay attention when we drove in (and later out of) A-Zayim where nothing seemed to have changed.
In Kedar we saw some heavy equipment near the construction site.
The Container
A fairly new but badly vandalized car with two number plates was dumped in a field near the parking lot of the Container CP.
The soldiers took no interest in us nor in the traffic passing along smoothly –it was too hot ~ some were talking on their cell phones and others were getting drinks or talking together while the cars passed along unhindered and no soldier made any gestures to allow them to continue. Some of the cars even ignored the ‘security’ distance to be kept between each car.
After quite a while a soldier noticed us and asked about Edna. He told us that the white car had been there for ages. They have planted a little garden near the CP to have nana in their tea. On both sides cars were stopped, but immediately released. It looked as if the CP served no purpose at all, not even for harassment. The Palestinian drivers were pleased and must have thought that the lack of any queues was our doing.
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.
Avital CFeb-27-2026Jerusalem, Damascus Gate: Crowd rushing to prayer
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