Abu Dis, Container (Wadi Nar), Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal), Thu 10.1.08, Morning
09:50 The pishpash (Alboaba)
There were more vehicles parked in the western parking lot than we expected to find, on the grounds on the curfew. A bus full of children arrived from the west, let the children off, and they crossed the checkpoint running towards the east. A very thin and flowing movement of people westwards. We took time according to one woman holding a baby that crossed within a few minutes. An Aurstralian tourist who rented a car and wanted to get to the Sea of Galilee through the Jordan Valley got confused, missed the road, and found himself in the parking lot. We helped him to get back to the main road by leading the way for him.
A vivid trafic on vehicles in both directions, and more through checking than the usual. As we artrived we saw 3 vans heading south detained. two of them we released a few minutes later, and the third was released half an hour after we arrived. The passengers (at least the men) were standing outside. A lorry loaded with cows that came from Ezariye was detaind and at the end, probably because of a missing document (the soldiers in the checkoint were talking with the driver and made some phone calls), turned around and returned to where it came from.
In order to have a better view on the vehicles going southwards that were detained, we entered into the area of the checkpoint (the sleeves that are intended for pedestrians). The soldiers demanded at first that we leave the place, but after a short discussion they let us stay.
As we left the place we say on the roof of our car many small stones. Beforehand, when we stood inside the checkoint, as soldier came up to us and made sure that the car parked in front of the checkpoint is ours.
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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