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Abu Dis, Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal), Sheikh Saed, Thu 12.3.09, Morning

Observers: Shosh H., Michaela R.
Mar-12-2009
| Morning

6:45  Sheikh Saed
Quiet crossing.

 
7:10  Zeitim Crossing

 
We entered the checkpoint.  Dozens of men crowded in front of corridors 1 and 2,  and numerous pupils, women and the elderly at 3.  Here too crossing time  takes approximately 15 minutes.

 
Two are turned back — one reports that his permit was expropriated, he has no idea why.  The woman soldier screams: "What's up? Why the excitement?  Irja, irja."  The following conversation takes place: "Why did you run?" (Is running a crime?); "For the bus."  "For the bus?!" (What else? how strange…)

 
7:35  Suddenly she announces that corridor 1 is closed.  A scrimmage ensues; the last are now ahead of the line, and those who were ahead now move to the end of the line.  Shosh calls Almog, the checkpoint commander, who reprimands the soldier.   Most of the pupils at corridor 3 have crossed by now, a dense line of women and the elderly remains.  One of those waiting at corridor 1 sinks to the ground with exhaustion. 

 
7:42  The corridor reopens.  Renewed chaos and the line re-organises.  The soldier is more cross than ever.  The turnstile is well-controlled, one person passes each time until she deigns to press the green button again, and crossing is very slow.  A third man is turned back, to renew finger-printing — he's sent to Jericho.  [Does not the Zeitim DCO have the equipment to renew finger-printing?]  Shosh inadvertently leans on the turnstile, and this annoys the soldier who screams angry orders in Arabic again and again.  She returns to her work only after removing this serious obstacle.

 
We exited the line after 33 minutes.

  • 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)

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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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