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Abu Dis, Container (Wadi Nar), Tue 23.2.10, Afternoon

Place: Abu Dis / Lazarus gate (formerly The Wicket) Container (Wadi Nar)
Observers: Julia W., Rahel W. (reporting)
Feb-23-2010
| Afternoon
Uneventful shift.

No unusual events en route to Wadi Nar. 

When we arrived there at about 2:15, there was a vehicle carrying a bulldozer held up at the checkpoint, but that was released after about 20 minutes.  Otherwise, the light traffic moved very quickly and there were only minor delays.

 

On the return to Jerusalem, we stopped to observe what is happening at Qedar.  As previously noted, at least 25 new, large buildings have been quickly put up in the past 6 months. 

Earth moving equipment is still actively engaged there.  what appears to be sizeable basement areas for yet more construction have been completed since our last visit.  Some 30 more buildings!!!! are underway (during this time of "settlement freeze") and we can expect that within a year's time, Qedar will have nearly tripled in size. 

  • 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)

       

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