Abu-Dis, 12-1-04, morning. Watchers: Jehudith A., Marit T, Neta A. We had plans to tour all the checkpoints in the area and to make an inventory. But plans are one thing, and reality is another. >b>07:00 Abu-Dis : Metal barriers erected by the police bar passage near the lower gas station. We were allowed to pass without difficulty. Part of the old wall is broken and one can see the street on the other side. The shops are closed, and except reinforced troops of the border police there is not a soul. Also no taxis and their drivers. The view that opens up towards the mosque is hair-raising: – a concrete wall of 8 meters high (maybe 9) begins to jut out in its full threat. Even though we knew, we still hoped that this verdict would be cancelled. But in vain. Block after block. One giant row of concrete, one after the other are erected with the help of powerful cranes, trucks and bulldozers straighten the area. Workers, engineers, surveyors, and security guards. Much bustle. Thus they build what is called “the barrier”, the separation wall, to envelop Jerusalem. A terrible monster, which arouses disgust, and obscures by its height nearly all of the minaret of the mosque and also the sky. There are no words to describe this painful sight. Tamar, our friend from Abu-Dis, cried. And we also. We went up to the hotel, to see the field of concrete elements. There also parts of the wall stand ready. A wall of which it is not clear were it comes from and where it is going and what for. We were told that the hotel is OUT, Terry’s house is IN. How all this fits in, how all this works out, where the logic is, how we close them in and imprison ourselves also. From there we went nowhere. We walked around the area as if hypnotized by this terrible scene and it was difficult to disengage. Bye, bye Abu-Dis.