Abu Dis, Sheikh Saed, Thu 4.3.10, Morning
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A plot confiscated, an orchard damaged — long live security?
6:50 Sheikh Saed
Quiet, a few cross rapidly.
The Pishpash
In the enclosed structure, checkpoint architecture is sprouting, surrounded by turnstiles. At present the building fulfills no function.
Towards 8:00 the toddlers are wending their way towards the kindergarten in the monastery. They have become expert at negotiating the metal steps taller than their little legs.
We heard the sad story of the Abu-Rumi family. Their plot abuts the street leading to the Pishpash on one side, and on the other the patrol route along the wall. 35-40% of the land has been confiscated for the construction of the wall and the road. On the other side of the wall, a piece of land remains but it's not accessible. Anyone who sees the lay-out will understand the sheer arbitrariness of the wall's route — the extent of land appropriated could easily have been reduced. The road works and construction have damaged the fruit trees on the land the family still hold.
According to Abu-Rumi, electric gates are planned along the patrol route. A type of inner checkpoint??? They have takent he matter of land confiscation to court several times, paying lawyer's fees out of their own pocket. They are alone in this campaign — no solidarity, no support, only indifference, including on the part of of the Palestinian authority.
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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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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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