Abu Dis, Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal), Sheikh Saed, Sun 8.11.09, Morning
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7:20 Sheikh Sa'ed
We find a line of 10-12 people when we arrive; the line moves quickly with no apprent delays. One of those crossing tells us that an hour earlier there was a very long line; the soldiers at the checkpoint deny this.
8:00 The Pishpash
On the 20th anniversary celebrations of the fall of the Berlin Wall, we arrive at the Pishpash where a wall stands.
8:30 Zeitim Crossing
The crossing appears tranquil at this hour, with sparse traffic.
9:00 Sheik Jerrakh, the protest tent
We went to check out the situation after an additional house was invaded by settlers. Two civilian guards are stationed at the entrance, fairly calm and at ease. (Who pays for them? the settlers? the authorities? both — (as in the case of civilian security in the settlements in East Jerusalem, paid for by the Ministry of Housing, etc.?)
The following emerges from our conversation with the Palestinian residents of the house:
The unit occupied by the settlers was built, without permit, nine years ago, and since then left unoccupied, by court order. It abuts on another unit recieved from UNWRA, and the extended family (12 souls) lives in the old unit because occupation of the one next to it is prohibited.
The family relate that the settlers arrived last week, in broad daylight, accompanied by police and civilian security guards, and entered the house which has been constantly guarded since then. They said there had been a court deliberation a week before the invasion (and there's a missing link here: we didn't understand how and when the deliberation started, and what claims had been made); the judge had said that the decision would be mailed to them before any steps were taken regarding the house, and yet the settlers had entered before the family knew anything of the upshot of the court deliberations.
This, in broad outline, is what we were able to gather.
On the other side of the street, the house occupied by settlers a few months ago appears to be undergoing rennovations.
A few European activists and residents were sitting in the protest tent. |
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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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.
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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.
Avital CFeb-27-2026Jerusalem, Damascus Gate: Crowd rushing to prayer
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