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Abu Dis, Container (Wadi Nar), Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal), Tue 6.11.07, Afternoon

Place: Abu Dis / Lazarus gate (formerly The Wicket) Container (Wadi Nar) Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal)
Tags: Arbitrariness, e.g. an arbitrary decision
Observers: Julia W., Rina H., Rahel W.
Nov-06-2007
| Afternoon
Abu Dis. We went first to the home of our driver. Sammy, to see his wife and new baby girl.  His wife, who has a Israeli i.d. gave birth in Muhassed hospital by Caesarian section.  Sammy, who has a green i.d. could not accompany his wife to the hospital.  He tried to get a permit to visit his wife and first born child during their five day stay in the hospital, but each time he applied for a permit, he was told at the DCL that he had to bring an additional document — proof that he was married, proof that there were no outstanding debts, etc.  After three abortive trips, he just sat home and, as he told us, "cried like a little girl".  He never did get to visit his wife in the hospital.

We  went to Wadi Naar.  For the first time, we saw a soldier with a rifle on ready stationed in a concrete structure at the turn of the road where vehicles coming from the south pass by.  Behind him, beneath the pill box, there was a car being examined by a team with a dog.  We could not see the driver, but obviously the car was going a minute examination.  Another car was parked on the road in the area of the checkpoint going down toward Bethlehem with no driver in sight. 

Generally, when there is a long line up of traffic, as soon as we appear, the traffic starts to move more quickly.  This time, the opposite happened.  As soon as we appeared, the soldiers started examining more cars heading south at great length and the line of cars grew longer.  As we moved away, the cars were again moved through without delay.

We were going to go to the Zeitun terminal, but by then, it was quite late and Sammy told us that the place would be nearly empty.

  • 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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