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Abu Dis, Container (Wadi Nar), Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal), Thu 8.4.10, Morning

Place: Abu Dis / Lazarus gate (formerly The Wicket) Container (Wadi Nar) Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal)
Observers: Shosh H., Michaela R. (reporting)
Apr-08-2010
| Morning

 . 

Summary: At the Zeitim crossing the outside turnstile is locked, as in Kalandia and Bethlehem.

 
6:45  Zeitim Terminal

10-15 persons in front of the outer turnstile, crossing one by one.  After crossing they must wave permits or ID's in view of the person sitting in the hut; those who fail to do so are screamed at on the loudspeaker while the turnstile remains locked and the line lengthens.  When women arrived and pressed the button to open the second turnstile there was no response.  The men and children had to make way for them.

 

When my turn came the turnstile was locked, and then the second turnstile was unlocked.  The entire line moved, last becoming first and first last. 

I remained where I was, staring at the female soldier ensconsed in the hut.   After a while the men tried to explain to me the culture of turnstile management and signalled to me to move to the second turnstile.  Just as I made a move towards it, the green light came on, then off again, and the turnstile was locked.

Inside, three positions were open, and it seemed that there were no particular problems.

Wadi Nar

Traffic flowing.

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  • 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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