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Abu Dis, Container (Wadi Nar), Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal), Thu 14.10.10, Morning

Place: Abu Dis / Lazarus gate (formerly The Wicket) Container (Wadi Nar) Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal)
Tags: Crowding Slow passage Women
Observers: Judith S., Michaelia R.
Oct-14-2010
| Morning
 
6:10 Zeitim Crossing

 
The line is unusually long for this checkpoint, reaching as far as the shelter.  The outside turnstiles open once every few minutes, dozens are swallowed inside, and a new line forms immediately.  One turnstile for men, two for women and children.

 
Inside the lines are very long, it's crowded but quiet and orderly.  Three corridors are open.  The children's line grows increasingly longer, several dozen at any given moment.

 
Inside the turnstiles the light changes form green to red intermittently, regardless of the opening/shutting of the turnstile.  People are practised, they cross one by one, remove their belts, place their belongings to be x-rayed.  On the other side of the glass sit two female soldiers but only one of them glances at the documents from time to time.  If the other were to check simultaneously, the waiting time would be cut by half.

It took me 20 minutes to cross.

 
People in the line mentioned that they had come from the Bethlehem 300 where it was a difficult morning.

Wadi Nar

Traffic flows unimpeded.  Construction in Kedar is progressing rapidly.

Az-Za'ayyem

We had a phone call to alert us that there were harrassments, some verging on the sexual.  When we arrived at 8:00 most of the minibuses had crossed and we noticed nothing unusual.

  • 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.

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