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Abu Dis, Container (Wadi Nar), Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal), Tue 16.12.08, Afternoon

Observers: Eva F., Yael L.-J. (reporting)
Dec-16-2008
| Afternoon
Olive terminal

We arrived at 14:45. There was not much public. Some school children were passing the checkpoint fast on their way home to Al Ezariya. Adults walking the same direction had to show their papers. There were only  few people passing to Jerusalem. One elder gentleman needed 12 minutes. A young woman was addressing us saying "they are treating us like animals". On questions she was explaining that she was ordered to pull out her shoes for control and had to stand on the cold floor.    
On the Jerusalem side of the checkpoint a civil guard was patrolling.

Wadi Nar

 
Arrival at 15:45.  The construction work at the checkpoint improved the passage,  as the lanes of the road and the traffic islands got completed. Only the road we are using was barred at the junction. The others were open.
From my car we could observe that there was a long queue of cars (about 20) waiting. They came from the direction of  Abu Dis. After our appearance at the checkpoint area the the cars were waved through.
 
We saw  7 soldiers on duty. They did not address  us. From time to time they were stopping  mainly Sherut taxis, likely for spot checks of younger male passengers. On the average this lasted about 10 minutes. We were not sure if they really checked the papers in the  computer.    One young Palestinian guy who was among the chosen ones told us that he was ordered to visit Shabak in the near future.  

  • 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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