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Abu Dis, Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal), Silwan, Mon 27.12.10, Afternoon

Place: Abu Dis / Lazarus gate (formerly The Wicket) Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal) Silwan
Observers: Chana G., Rahel W. (reporting)
Dec-27-2010
| Afternoon

 

 
Since Wadi Nar has been so uneventful over these past months, we decided to visit around at some of the other checkpoints in the south of the city.
 
Olive Terminal
 
Very few people going in either direction.  Since so few Palestinians get permits to come to Jerusalem, this crossing seems primarily to serve school children. 
 
We were there for only about 20 minutes and during that time, fewer than 20 people crossed through.
 
Abu Dis
 
 
We returned to Abu Dis after not having been there for months.  The checkpoint at the top of the hill — opposite the Monastery — was moved about 100 meters south.  We were told by one of the merchants in the area that that happened some months back.  There is clearly no passage for automobiles. but the gate was open and there were no guards in sight.  When we mentioned this to the merchant, he said that the area on the other side is absolutely closed and even people in dire need of medical treatment can't get through.
 
 
We went up to the Cliff Hotel which has become a total wreck.  While we were there, several vehicles driven by workmen — a tiler, and electrician — passed through.  We noticed no change in the Moskowitz settlement.  The area has remained unchanged for about two years, but who knows what the future will bring.
 
 
After Abu Dis, we drove through Silwan.  Unlike previous cases, there was little presence of border police, but there seemed to be a lot of private security guards around.  On Tuesday, when we were there, things were calm.

  • 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.

  • 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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