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Abu Dis, Container (Wadi Nar), Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal), Thu 14.8.08, Morning

Place: Abu Dis / Lazarus gate (formerly The Wicket) Container (Wadi Nar) Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal)
Observers: Yehudith S., Michaelia R. (reporting) and Marie Daumier, AFP journalist
Aug-14-2008
| Morning
5:20  Zeitim Crossing

A very long line, almost reaching the canopy.  Waiting time, 10-12 minutes, is relatively short, considering the vast number of people crossing.
When we approached the exit turnstile we met the security guard who announces loudly on the wireless that he has found us.  A few minutes later the checkpoint commander, Yossi Almog, exits the turnstile.  He tells us that the situation at his post is OK because he makes a point of opening the checkpoint at 4:30, half-an-hour before regulation time, to avoid crowding.

6:00 Wadi Nar

Busy traffic flowing, random checks, detentions few and short.  Once in a while the line from Bethlehem gets backed up.  A garbage truck from the direction of Bethlehem drives along a special lane and collects the soldiers' grabage.


 
A driver who descended from his taxi to stretch his legs is met with loud reprimands.  The man who obviously does not understand Hebrew, even less when it's shrieked, is slow to obey, and this leads to a personal and educational "talk" on the part of the border policeman who could have been the man's son or even grandson.  We moved in the direction of the taxi, and the security guard complained loudly of the intrusion on his privacy. He demanded why we were eavesdropping and when we said this was a public space open to all, we were told that this was not public space.  But he quickly lost interest.

 
7:30 A-Za'ayem Checkpoint

Instead of the bar which lifts to open the way after the check is over,  there is now a frightening row of spikes on the road, operated by remote control.

Documents of the minibus passengers are checked in the jeep while all the passengers descend. At this checkpoint only holders of blue ID's or representatives of international organizations, are allowed to pass, but Palestinians  with permits must cross on foot at the Zeitim checkpoint.

 
Suddenly, the entire checkpoint is closed.  Metals bars came down, one of them landing on a car, and the alarm system went on.  Subsequently we learned that a settler had been annoyed by the request to present documents, and the policemen had closed the checkpoint while he calmed down. We were told that most of the problems at the checkpoint are created by settlers, mostly residents of Ma'aleh Adomim, whereas the Palestinians are familiar with procedures and know what to do.

 
Again we were shouted at to stop filming.  We produced our documents and once again it turned out that the man who shouted had no authority at all in the administration of the checkpoint.  Again an older military man came up to us and told us we could stay in the area and film, but without disturbing.

. 

  • 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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