Container (Wadi Nar), Mon 6.4.09, Afternoon
From 15:00 till 18:00
Just before the eve of the holiday and during another enforced curfew we went out to Wadi Nar.
The asphalted roads with their fresh markings, like the new CP itself (without the mythological parasol) look impressive. The clean surroundings of the checkpoint are only disturbed by some remnants of coiled barbed wire thrown on the road near the small grocery store. Traffic runs smoothly in both directions and there is no queue from the direction of Azariya. Once in a while a minibus is stopped and the papers of its passengers are checked – this takes between 10 and 20 minutes.
We returned via Maaleh Adumim, where we did encounter a long line of cars, near the roundabout, which is now blooming in various colors, from the direction of Azariya.
We returned towards Jerusalem and entered A-Zayim. The owner of the grocery store welcomed us warmly and complained that the situation is only getting worse. Not one inhabitant in possession of a blue Id has remained in the village. All have left for Jerusalem where they live under terribly cramped conditions. Their spacious houses are left behind deserted in A-Zayim waiting for better times. The owner of the store too lives in Jerusalem and only comes to work in the store. We didn't see too many customers.
A ‘boring' shift.
Container (Wadi Nar)
See all reports for this place-
Wadi Nar Checkpoint ("Container", "The Kiosk") - a barrier for vehicles in Area B that is regularly manned - east of Abu Dis between Sawahra A Sharqiya and Bethlehem and its daughters. Controls Palestinian movement between the north and south West-Bank. Includes driving routes, access roads, spikes, traffic lights and signs. There is no pedestrian crossing. Open 24 hours a day with random checks enhanced on security alerts. The checkpoint is in Palestinian territory, allowing for separation between the north and the south Palestinian areas when necessary.
In 2015, the leading road from Azaria to Bethlehem was renovated, as well as the steep and narrow ascent to the Wadi Nar checkpoint, which was dangerously travelled in both directions! The temporary checkpoint was renovated and expanded, and pedestrian traffic was banned. From 2016, traffic travelling from the south bank to Azaria was directed to a one-way road near the Southern Keydar Jewish settlement.
Machsomwatch shifts visit this far-fetched checkpoint only occasionally.
(updated to July 2019)
-