Abu-Dis Wednesday PM, 10.11.04Observers : TB, DG (reporting)Cliff Hotel – 15:30 : Major foundation construction around the hotel but most important : all passageways are now blocked thus eliminating any possibility of crossing over via the hotel. The Pishpash gate – Also totally blocked. A wall of 8 meter high concrete slabs has been erected in front of what used to be The Gate. However, 3 relatively new alternative ways of crossing over have been created. One can go through the house to the right and climb an improvised ladder (a tilted around police barrier still bearing the sign “Israeli Police”) thus reaching the usual “Gate”. The only obstacle is a rather bored BP who claims he stops people for their own safety, but when his back is turned they hurriedly prefer this short way. The second option is still the monastery but upgraded: no more fumbling with the gate lock for it has been broken, and no need for a long detour as there is a newly broken into opening in the fence. The BP posted at the entrance to the monastery, one in the jeep and the other behind the gate, must be aware of all this but they seldom bother to check IDs of the many Palestinians passing to and fro. The third new passageway is up the road leading from the hotel to The Gate. People manage to squeeze through a narrow opening between the fence of a house and concrete stones.An Italian monk belonging to the monastery complained to us that “they” (the Palestinians) had broken the lock and destroyed trees nurtured for years (the demolished trees were nowhere in sight). In contrast, he praised the soldiers’ protection.