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Abu Dis, Container (Wadi Nar), Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal), Sheikh Saed, Wed 19.11.08, Morning

Place: Abu Dis / Lazarus gate (formerly The Wicket) Container (Wadi Nar) Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal) Sheikh Sa'ed
Tags: Blockage of Life
Observers: Anat T., Shira V. (reporting)
Nov-19-2008
| Morning

 

 

06:55 Sheikh Sa'ed

A long line stretches from the entrance to the checkpoint.  The reason: in addition to checking documents, the soldiers were also recording manually those crossing.  We tried talking to them about making the crossing more efficient, for example by opening up another line, but to no avail, and waiting time continued to be longer than ususal, more than 10 minutes.

07:55 Zeitim Crossing

Quiet, and sparse traffic, on the Palestinian side as well.  We heard from the Palestinians about appropriation
 orders for houses and installations along the access road from Al-Ezariya to the Zeitim Crossing, evidently for the purpose of widening the road for the use of buses.

08:40 Wadi Nar

Vehicles facing southward were waiting while northward traffic was flowing, not a common situation.  The reply to our inquiry was that the previous week four stolen vehicles going in that direction were caught, and searches were now more meticulous. The checks were random (one out of every 2-3), and careful.  Trunks were also checked, merchandise etc.
From conversations, we gathered that changes had been made in recent weeks in the ensemble of soldiers at the checkpoint: each team is made up of soldiers from the military police who check the vehicles, and border-policemen who guard them.  The soldiers said that since these changes a representative of the DCO is no longer present at this checkpoint.  This struck us as odd, and led to a conversation with Tali who is in charge of DCO representation in Abu Dis, and with Uri, her commander.

09:00  The Shimon Ha-Tzadik neighbourhood

We stopped again to visit the protest tent set up by the residents on behalf of the woman recently evicted from her home in the neighbourhood as part of the broader move to establish a Jewish neighbourhood there.  Two British members of Parliament who happened to be visiting when we arrived expressed an interest in Machsom Watch activity.  The police impose a daily fine of NIS 450 on those who set up the tent because it's an "illegal building."  We were shown one of these daily forms.  We recommend a visit for whoever is able.  27 families are due to receive eviction notices, and they yearn for Israeli solidarity, especially of Jerusalemites.
   

  • 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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