Abu-Dis, Sawahre, El-AzaryiaSunday morning, 6 June 2004Observers: Marit T., Dalia R., Chana A. (reporting)6:40, Abu Dis: Upon our arrival, we went to the Cliff Hotel first. No one around except Military Police. The new settlement also seemed quite deserted.7:00, the Pishpash passage is closed, and passing is across the obstruction on the right. It’s a bad thing as well as a good one: No soldiers around, so if you are young (and even some not so young) you are assured of passing through. That is, if you are able-bodied! That’s the catch.One of the young fellows waiting for a taxi told us that Saturday afternoon (4 or 5 PM) the Border Police threw teargas canisters into the crowd at this point and created havoc. So, the harassment has continued with a smaller BP presence.7:20, Meshor Adumim: the line of waiting taxis at this “flying” [mobile, unscheduled] checkpoint was quite long. Drivers said they had been waiting for an hour or so.7:45, “Container”-Sawahre: Apart from two taxis waiting for a few of their passengers who had been detained and one large truck whose contents of boxed merchandise was unloaded onto the pavement, the passing was quick and easy in both directions. A relief for all. Even the taxis left while we were there but their detained passengers were sent back south. We did not see any movement on the snake path detouring the checkpoint. 8:20, El-Azaryia: A long line of taxis, with a waiting time of an hour and a half. Why? Only four soldiers manning the “flying” CP, one on top of the hill overlooking the point, one in the jeep on the telephone, the CO, Yoni, an unpleasant, pugnacious guy who we saw as the source of the delay, and a regular policeman. Part of the delay was caused by taxis bypassing the line, with the full agreement of the others since they were carrying sick people. This, however, angered Yoni no end and he decided to “educate” them. We tried calling the DCO [IDF Civil Administration office, that issues passage permits and sometimes sends a presence to the CPs] and the IDF “Humanitarian” Hotline [Dalia Bassa; takes calls to expedite medical and other human rights cases], but neither was of any help. In the end, our own efforts seemed to solve at least those two problems. Another one, of three detained minors, all 15-year-old boys on their way to a picnic in Bir Zeit for the end of the [school] year, was solved only when the flying CP was disbanded at 9:00. The boys had forgotten their birth certificates at home!