Abu Dis, Container (Wadi Nar), Tue 10.2.09, Afternoon
As we walked toward the checkpoint, we were approached by a young border policeman and an older man, (in his 50's or 60's) who was obviously a volunteer at the checkpoint. The older man wanted to know who we were and why we were there. We showed him our badges and explained that we were there to observe what was going on at the checkpoint. He became very hostile and suggested that if we wanted to be good citizens we should go to Sderot instead of worrying about "them". The young border policeman warned that "they" want Jerusalem and that "they" could fire a bullet into our homes. Furthermore, if one of "them" started up with him, he would take his gun and shoot to kill. Initially, we made some effort to engage them in civil conversation, but the two of them were so full of blind hatred that it was futile.
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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