Abu Dis, Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal), Thu 20.6.13, Morning
5:10 Olive Terminal
When we arrived we found the soldiers (one male one female) busy with their cell phones, barely lifting their heads to nod at the person presenting documents and with one finger on the machine. Two passages were open, with a line of more than 10 in front of each. Later a third passage was opened.
Around 5:30 waves of people arrived, forming long and twisting lines, intersecting with each other. Once in a while the soldier in the aquarium closed the outside turnstile.
From time to time one of the stations closed, and those waiting rushed into another line, the first becoming last and the last becoming first. After a few minutes the station reopened, and again there was a rush back. A nauseating sight. This game of harassment occurred several times, and we wondered whether the soldiers are aware of the effect on those waiting in line.
Crossing time was 15-20 minutes.
The atmosphere at this hour is relaxed, people talking quietly and trying to avoid the droppings of pigeons clustered under the roof. But when the annoyance of opening and closing stations began, restlessness and tension developed.
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.
-