Abu Dis, Container (Wadi Nar), Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal), Sheikh Saed, Wed 28.5.08, Morning
There is a short line of grown ups and children in front of the checkpoint. It is released within a few minutes. An older woman, an inhabitant of the neighborhood (we saw here ID), who has difficulties in walking, is trying to convince the BP commander of the checkppoint to let her go through. She tells him in Arabic (which he did not understand) that she is sick and has to see a doctor. We crossed the checkpoint towards Sheikh Saed and spoke with her. She told us that she has stomack and feet problems. We tried to talk with the man in charge in the place, and we agreed that his commander will arrive at the place and will decide whether or not let her go through.
While waiting for the commander to come, the woman was talking with other Palestinians and told them about her medical problems. In addition she said that she has to visit her son in a hospital in Jerusalem. Her husband was beside her. After a while we tried to find out what happens. We found out that the commander was there, and after he spoke with the with the man in charge of the checkpoint he refused to let her through. We think that, at least, he had to see the woman's condition before he made his decision, only according to his talk with the man responsible for the checkpoint.
We tried to connect with the humanitarian center, and started making phone calls, in order to connect them with the person responsible for the checkpoint.
We saw a lorry by the checkpoint, and stopped to find out what happens. The soldiers explained to us that they are busy with installing/fixing (I don't remember what) the projectors for the night light.
Two policemen, Y. and G. were standing below the road coming up into the checkpoint in order to write driving tickets. We talked with them for a while.
We stopped when we saw BP Jeeps, with a soldier who stood on a higher spot, near by, his weapon pulled up, and on the sidewalk there was a civilian with his weapon pulled out too. They explained to us that it is a GSS operation, and we did see a Palestinian who was arrested and released with a white note. When we returned, half an hour later, the Jeeps were not there any more.
The checkpoint was pretty empty. A van that was detained a few minutes before we arrived, according to the passengers, was released quickly. The driver was called through a loudspeaker to collect the passposts from the pillbox.
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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