Container (Wadi Nar), Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal), Thu 18.10.07, Morning
The Container – 05:00 – Before we left our car we saw a detained vehicle, and it was sent on its way before we got to the checkpoint itself. We do not know how long it was detained. There were five BP soldliers and one soldier in the pilbox, three soldiers were standing on the roadways. A representative of the DCO was not present. The traffic was sparse and checkup was random. A van going towards Beit Lehem was detained for checkup of documents at 07:03, and was on his way 7 minutes later.
From the road climbing up towards Ma'ale Adumim, between the hills on our right we could see that the winding road is mostly paved. It is not clear where from and towards where it is going, but it looks like it is supposed to serve Palestinians only?
Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal) , coming from the DCO (entrance from Al-Ezariya) – 07:37 – There was not even one public transport vehicle (vans and minibuses) in the parking lot during the time we were in the checkpoint -half an hour. One van arrived as we were leaving. They were working with pebbles on the road leading from the main road to the checkpoint. Maybe this winding road will be paved. Palestinian traffic very scarse . Passage is less than four minutes.
8:10 – We left the place.
Container (Wadi Nar)
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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)
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Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal)
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A large checkpoint/crossing to the area of a-Tur, Abu Dis and the Old City; only for pedestrians. Located on Jerusalem’s municipal boundary.
One of the major crossings in Jerusalem’s central sector. It is located on the separation fence between the northern portion of the al-Ezariya neighborhood and the neighborhood of a-Tur and the rest of East Jerusalem. It is manned by Border Police soldiers and private security companies and operates 24 hours a day. Palestinians are forbidden to go through, other than permanent residents of East Jerusalem (holders of blue ID cards) and holders of work and commercial permits who are allowed through only on foot.
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