Back to reports search page

Abu Dis, Sheikh Saed, Thu 23.6.11, Morning

Place: Abu Dis / Lazarus gate (formerly The Wicket) Sheikh Sa'ed
Tags: Slow passage
Observers: Rachel M., Christiana (Italian visitor) Michaela R. (reporting)
Jun-23-2011
| Morning

   R. (reporting)

 
Sheikh Saed
 
When we arrived we saw 15-20 persons standing at the entrance to the upper corridor (in terms of Sheikh Saed this is a long line for this hour).  They approach the magnometer one by one and should someone approach before his predecessor has left he is greeted with grave reprimands on the raucous loudspeaker, ripping the morning silence of the space.
Checking proceeds slowly, 17 minutes per crossing.
Some of the children are checked, others not.
 
A young man loses his temper at the "forward, backward" orders, and must retrace his steps, angrily.
A group of young women enter the corridor together.  The loudspeaker rages in Hebrew; they don't understand…
Although several security persons are present, only one conducts the checks.
One of those crossing complains that our presence is the cause of the long line.
Around 7:20 the person checking was replaced and the strictness was reduced.
 
7:55 The Pishpash
 
Silence and desolation.  The gate is locked, and judging by the accumulation of trash and plastic bags, it is not in use.  The kindergarten children are on vacation.  A security vehicle left when we arrived. We described to our Italian guest the attitude of the State of Israel to the two monasteries here.

  • 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.

  • Sheikh Sa'ed

    See all reports for this place

    • 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.

      ירושלים, שער שכם: קהל ממהר לתפילה
      Avital C
      Feb-27-2026
      Jerusalem, Damascus Gate: Crowd rushing to prayer
      View the full album
Donate