Abu Dis, Container (Wadi Nar), Sheikh Saed, Wed 19.3.08, Morning
We took the chance and drove with the flag of MW flying over our car in the streets of Jabel Mukaber to the checkoint of Sheikh Saed. It was extremely quiet. The school children are on spring holiday. In two places – at the junction at the entrance to Armon Hanatziv, and on the hill top of Jabel Mukaber there are police patrol cars.
At the junction of Armon Hanatziv there is a policeman with his weapon crossed over his chest, and a policewoman in the patrol car, and at the entrance to the neighborhood a police van full of policemen, probably ready for any event of breaking the order. In the neighborhood one does not feel tension or stress, but there is a heavy atmosphere and a cloud of depression. There are no smiles.
The checkpoint of Sheikh Saed is in the trained hands of Z., the commander, a matter-of-fact pleasent man. The other three BP men do not seem to be looking for the well being of the population. They mostly "bark"at the people going through. The two civil guards are busy in their own business that include smoking, change of guards and talks.
There are about four vans and one bus of youngsters from Hebron on their way for a journy in Jericho, detained for an ordinary checkup.
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.
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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)
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Sheikh Sa'ed
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A checkpoint limited to pedestrians, located on Jerusalem’s municipal boundary.
The checkpoint sits on the separation fence at the entrance to Sheikh Sa’ad, dividing it from its neighbourhood of Jabel Mukkabar. It’s manned by Border Police soldiers and private security companies and operates 24 hours a day. Palestinians are forbidden to go through, other than residents of Jabel Mukkabar or Sheikh Sa'ad who have permits. Both groups are permitted through only on foot. Residents of East Jerusalem who don’t live in Jabel Mukkabar are also allowed to cross to Sheikh Sa’ad, but not in the opposite direction; they must return through the Sawahira ash Sharqiya checkpoint.
Avital CFeb-27-2026Jerusalem, Damascus Gate: Crowd rushing to prayer
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