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Abu Dis, Container (Wadi Nar), Tue 6.1.09, Afternoon

Place: Abu Dis / Lazarus gate (formerly The Wicket) Container (Wadi Nar)
Observers: Julia W., Rina H., Chana G., Rahel W. (reporting)
Jan-06-2009
| Afternoon

 
Entry into Azariah was unimpeded when we arrived, but by the time we went home from Wadi Nar, there was a flying checkpoint set up on the road to Qedar and the road to Maaleh Adumim. 

 
When we arrived at Wadi Nar, there was once again a larger contingent of military personnel than usual — both border police and army.  There are also some changes at the site.  There was a jumble of barbed wire on the "short cut road" to Azariah which made the drivers circle around it.  Also, checking of vehicles heading toward Bethlehem was not done at the usual site but on the main road before drivers had to make the turn toward the checkpoint itself. 

Two new enclosed booths have been erected and the road widened sufficiently so that two lanes of traffic can head in each direction simultaneously, but at the moment, no one was manning any of the booths.  The same thing happened with a transit carrying four children (two of them dressed in Santa Claus outfits — today is the Orthodox Christmas–).  They were turned back, tried to cross again and this time were pulled over to the side.  Both vehicles were allowed to continue after about a 15 minute wait. 

After the very stringent check of several vehicles, everyone was just waved through and about 30 vehicles zoomed through before the soldiers changed their minds.  Go explain!
On our way back via Mount Scopus, we drove between demonstrations on either side of the road.  On one side, there were pictures of the horrors of Gaza and Palestinian flags; opposite were Israeli flags and signs saying "Let the IDF win". 
There was more checking of vehicles than usual.  One vehicle with a license plate marked "on test" was not allowed through, but the driver tried a second time and was allowed through but was then held up while his documents were checked. 

  • Abu Dis / Lazarus gate (formerly The Wicket)

    See all reports for this place

    •  

      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)

    See all reports for this place
    •  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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