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Abu Dis, Container (Wadi Nar), Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal), Thu 20.12.07, Morning

Observers: Yael Y., Shira V. (reporting) Tal K. (a guest)
Dec-20-2007
| Morning

Because of the holiday,  we decided to go when we thought there will be more traffic of family, due to holiday visits.

10:25 Zeitim passage

The checkpoint is almost empty. Two sleeves are open, and the light traffic there is flowing. We entered the checkpoint and returned through it to the western side. There were no special problems.
We recommend to those who want to enter the checkpoint to have I.D., and to remove jewlery that may cause alerts.

11:07 Wadi Naar

There is heavy traffic , mostly taxis and transits full of valises, but there are also private cars .
There are four vans heading south detained and standing aside. There are young Palestinians waiting near by.
Another van is detained heading south on the road. Men who are inside it were asked to descend and open their valises. It was done on the road. A few minutes later it was released.

About a quarter of an hour after we arrived, all the other vans were released. Checkups arae meticulous, but randomal,m and include checking IDs, and openning luggage compartments. Some of the other vehicles ar not checked at all, and waved through.

11:30 we left the place.

  • 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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