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Abu Dis, Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal), Sheikh Saed, Silwan, Wed 13.10.10, Morning

Place: Abu Dis / Lazarus gate (formerly The Wicket) Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal) Sheikh Sa'ed Silwan
Observers: Netanya G., Anat T.
Oct-13-2010
| Morning

 
7:15 Sheikh Saed
Judging by the emptiness on the hill above the checkpoint — where groups of boys and girls congregated over the High Holidys because they were not granted their permits by the administration, and were not always allowed to cross to school — it would appear that these problems are over.  But others remain, the kind of which we wrote about to the Civilian Administration.  For instance, a general question: why do pupils under the age of 16 require a special permit, and why is a letter from the school they attend not sufficient?
The Civilian Administration has not yet replied. Thinking in civilian terms, acting militarily

Otherwise, crossing is quick, but we must not forget all the restrictions imposed on residents of the neighbourhood who carry blue ID's (to say nothing of green ID's whose owners can go nowhere for any purpose without the most precise official permits), restrictions such as on travel by car to Jerusalem, the impossibility of reaching Sawahara, no crossing at the checkpoint for visitors from other neighbourhoods including Jabel Mukhabar.  In all these cases they are required to drive via the distant Zeitim Crossing — 40 minutes over mostly bad roads.

Pupils' path in the morning

7:45  Silwan

We felt compelled to inspect the blockages in this explosive area today.  All the way from the south the road is strewn with large and medium-sized rocks.

Despite the minister's declaration about sending in large numbers of reinforcements and  mistaravim we did not see any massive presence in the streets — perhaps he hasn't gotten round to it yet, or perhaps we failed to see them because the soldiers were disguised.

Work on Ein Hilweh Str. continues, and traffic is allowed only into the neighbourhood.  Two policemen stand above, at the intersection with the road beneath the city walls, but they don't check or stop vehicles leaving the neighbourhood. 

Near the City of David, in addition to the security guard, there is a policeman and a border policeman, as well as two private guards (of the municipality).  They are in charge of turning back vehicles wishing to enter the neighbourhood.  This included, while we were there, an enormous security vehicle belonging to the settlers (at our expense!) which was turned back, to enter from another street to the west.  Judging by the intensity of the arguments with the guards, and the responses of the private guards, it was only the presence of the assertive policeman that prevented free passage.

To conclude: everything appeared no different from the previous week, only more quiet (surely the residents must be very frightened after yesterday's visit), but the situation can change in an instant, and there is enough man-power to block all exits and entrances to the neighbourhood.

A close look at the students' notice

8:45 Zeitim Crossing

Clean as always; empty as always; the female soldiers rather less loud; only one passage open and no more needed for the present — but the routes keep changing (#1 closes, move to #2, a few minutes later #2 closes, move back to #1.  Why?  Move to #1 and no questioning).

Two new signs have been put up: one in Arabic directing pupils to cross at #3 in the morning, and another to the DCO at #4 saying that the checkpoint's policy is to provide service. (See photos).

The magnometer beeps continuously , also when a 4-year old with no bag crosses, and she turns back to her mother in embarrassment, not knowing what to do next.  Should she remove the ribbon in her hair?  But the female soldiers are relentless — for security reasons no doubt… 


  • 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.

  • Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal)

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    • 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

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    • 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

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

       

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