Abu Dis, Container (Wadi Nar), Tue 11.8.09, Afternoon
There was an enormous backup of traffic in Azariah even though there was no police or military presence.
On our way to Wadi Nar, we noticed trucks doing road work in the wadi on the right hand side of the road about 500 meters before the turn off to Qedar. There is clearly preparatory work being carried out there for some kind of building project.
When we arrived at Wadi Nar, the traffic was moving very smoothly in both directions. Two transits going south were being checked but they both got their documents back within minutes of our arrival.
We went to sit in the protected area but were immediately shooed away by the border policeman in charge of the area. In previous weeks, we were told that we were not allowed there, but were then left alone. This time, we were ordered out and we went across the street.
Traffic continued to move well. The border policeman who had ordered us away then moved up the road toward the intersection and stood there with his rifle pointed at the approaching vehicles. Minutes later, he moved it and held it horizontally so that it pointed directly at us. (A not pleasant feeling). Fortunately, he got a phone call and the rifle fell to a less threatening position!
A few vehicles heading south were stopped, but the delay was very short — a matter of minutes.
On our way back, we again took note of the building enterprise at Qedar. The new buildings and roads are now almost all the way up to the road. Bulldozers and trucks were still operating at full speed. Large areas were made ready for yet more houses. Are all these houses for "natural growth"?
No significant incidences.
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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