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Abu Dis, Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal), Sheikh Saed, Silwan, Mon 29.8.11, Morning

Place: Abu Dis / Lazarus gate (formerly The Wicket) Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal) Sheikh Sa'ed Silwan
Tags: Children Maltreatment Turnstile
Observers: Idit S., Anat T. (reporting)
Aug-29-2011
| Morning

)

 
6:45 Sheikh Saed
 
The checkpoint is tranquil.  Some 10 crossed during the 30 minutes of our stay.  Conversations with residents revolved around the exact date of Id-al-Fitr, as well as the upcoming September events.  We were unable to understand the differences around various versions of the date of the holiday.  Some claimed that the authority lies with the religious elders in Saudi Arabia, others insisted that the Quadi is supposed to see the birth of the moon (i.e. its first appearance after astronomical date), as it appears in Palestine.  Nobody knew just when the holiday begins, even though, when pressed, they said "tomorrow" (Tuesday).  In any event, they all said that there was no increase in severity of investigations at the checkpoint since the attack in Eilat, since it's severe enough as it is.  For example: one of the residents we spoke to has a daughter whose fiance is from Beit Hanina, and he's unable to cross back to Jerusalem via Sheikh Saed because this is only a "local" checkpoint.
 
With respect to September, nothing much was said, they await develpments.  We did not detect any special sense of pressure on the part of those we spoke to.
 
7:15  Silwan
 
We drove all the way along the American route to Ras al Amud to check the signs regarding land appropriation for the ring road.  The signs have all disappeared.  We know that "Bamakom" have submitted petitions regarding the illegality of the announced appropriations, since there is no valid over-all plan for all sections of the road.  Perhaps that convinced someone to remove the signs. Also to give up?  Time will tell.
 
Busy  traffic of buses carrying religious and overseas tourists along the Wall and close to City of David.  From the fence abutting on the byzantine section we filmed a sign about a new "pools route."  Interesting, since according to Wikipedia, the entrance to the pools was near Robinson's Arch and not under the Al-Aqsa mosque.
 
From Wikipedia: "The archaeological Park, Jerusalem"
        The stairway to the cross-over [Robinson's Arch which led to the Temple square -A.T.] was close to a large stone building which has been  almost entirely dismantled, leaving almost no traces.  This building served as a purification centre for the many pilgrims coming to Jerusalem,  and it contained many pools.  Those at ground level were all carved into the rock, which is why they have survived.  The discovery of many   pools indicates their extensive use in the days of the Temple.  In addition to the pools, there is a well preserved system of carved channels   and pipes which provided water to the pools, apparently by way of nearby aqueducts".
  
Since our visit, Idit has sent me publications from the City of David spokesperson about "Slichot" tours along the "pools route".  Apparently all the preparations we saw in the area of the archeological park under Al-Aqsa are related to these tours, and the passage will be through the new tunnel from the City of David to the Archaeological Park.
 
7:45  Zeitim Crossing
 
Here too the crossing is surprisingly tranquil.  Numerous bottles of water placed at the entrance and inside the checkpoint catch our eye.  The reason for these piles: many arrive very early and wait in line (the checkpoint opens at 5 a.m., the residents say), they drink their water until they reach the crossing, then leave the empty bottles as they cross over for another day of fasting.
 
Although there are almost no people, and no pressure, a mother and infant are trapped in the turnstile and, despite our many calls for help, the female soldier prefers to ignore them for about 4 minutes while she completes the investigation of the woman preceding them.  We tried to comment but she ignored us.  Are the Palestinians not human beings?  Is not a Palestinian mother with her infant worthy of the kind of attention which take their anxiety and discomfort into consideration?

  • 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.

  • Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal)

    See all reports for this place

    • A large checkpoint/crossing to the area of a-Tur, Abu Dis and the Old City; only for pedestrians. Located on Jerusalem’s municipal boundary.

      One of the major crossings in Jerusalem’s central sector. It is located on the separation fence between the northern portion of the al-Ezariya neighborhood and the neighborhood of a-Tur and the rest of East Jerusalem. It is manned by Border Police soldiers and private security companies and operates 24 hours a day. Palestinians are forbidden to go through, other than permanent residents of East Jerusalem (holders of blue ID cards) and holders of work and commercial permits who are allowed through only on foot.

  • Sheikh Sa'ed

    See all reports for this place

    • 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.

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  • Silwan

    See all reports for this place

    • Silwan is south of the Old City of Jerusalem and has become one of the main confrontation areas with settlers.

       

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