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Abu Dis, Container (Wadi Nar), Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal), Thu 31.7.08, Morning

Place: Abu Dis / Lazarus gate (formerly The Wicket) Container (Wadi Nar) Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal)
Tags: Detainees
Observers: Yehudith S., Michaelia R.
Jul-31-2008
| Morning

 

At the Zeitim Crossing, nearby but out of sight, every Palestinian bus is detained. Civilian guards are present in addition to the security forces who behave aggressively.  A stop on the way back from Wadi Nar is recommended.

5:30 Zeitim Crossing

Busy flow of pedestrians exiting the checkpoint.  Inside the checkpoint there is no line.

6:15 Wadi Nar


 
We met T. who replaces Elisha at the DCO; she initiated the meeting and greeted us pleasantly.  When we arrived the checkpoint barrier on the descending road was closed, and vehicles turned left in the direction of Sawahara.  When an Israeli vehicle carrying soldiers came up the road the barrier was raised and the road opened.  After a quick changing of the guard which did not interrupt traffic, another track was opened, separating vehicles travelling north from those travelling south.  This time older soldiers are present, volunteers over the age required for reserve duty.  Their task, one them says, is to curb the younsters.

 
Traffic continued uninterrupted, with almost no checks. (It should be noted that the building in which the checks used to take place has been moved to a distant and higher place.)  Extensive work on infrastructure continues busily.

 

7:05-7:55 Az-Za'yem Crossing

 
Some border policemen, and a military policewoman (who is doing most of the work) are "guarded" by civil security ("crossing security").  A man and his dog were standing apart.  They were busy mainly with checking commercial vehicles.

 
Every Palestinian public vehicle — the  minibuses — stops to be checked.  All passengers must disembark.  A guard checks the minibus, documents are checked, some sent for further checking.  Average delay: 10-20 minutes. Pedestrians coming from the direction of Az-Za'ayyem are required to present documents.

 
A civilian guard approaches and asks us to leave the checkpoint.  A border policeman reassures him, leads him away and says we can stand, talk and film as long as we don't create a disturbance.

  • Abu Dis / Lazarus gate (formerly The Wicket)

    See all reports for this place

    •  

      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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