Abu-Dis, Sunday PM, 22.1.06 Observers: Ilana H., Chagit S. (reporting). We dedicated the whole shift to Abu-Dis and to the new CP at Olives Crossing according to its official name, Rus- Abu- Sebitan according to the Palestinians, today from 14:30 till round about 17:30.Immediately upon our arrival we learned that today is the first day that Palestinians are not allowed to pass at Abu-Dis and that they are being sent to the new CP. The soldiers stood at the Pishapsh and the monastery gate and would not let anyone go over to the Jerusalem side, not even blue ID holders. Those in the direction of Abu-Dis were allowed through, for a while without any checking and then checking each and every one. They were forced to pass a stinking puddle, step over a few concrete tiles and then climb the low wall. An armed female soldier sits on the wall, thus blocking with her body the passage, which is narrow anyway. Individuals and families squeezed in between her and the wall, old people and young children and people loaded with parcels. Those climbing from the other side seeking entry, were turned back rudely, in the usual manner – Irjaa, go back, get moving and out of here, you are obstructing a policeman in the line of duty, there is the Gadid passage, go there. The BP-men carried on this despicable dialogue with people who tried to argue, in an infantile way, or nervously and aggressively, or mocking, according to their mood.Two female soldiers who were there never opened their mouths, they only blocked the passage. One passageway at the Pishpash, as described above, and the other behind the monastery gate. When the BP-men were in a more didactic mood, the “explained” to the people that as of today they have a more comfortable and orderly passage – all in Hebrew. Not one of them knew Arabic. And needless to say none of them could direct the people and tell them exactly how to get to the new crossing. It was obvious the people did not know of the new arrangement that was about to change their lives, and they looked confused and quite in despair. We assumed that even if some of them knew, they still hoped they could go through, since for more than a year their passage had been barred in various ways, parking was forbidden, stones, walls and wires were used to block their way and now a new crossing is announced, but still, to this day they have succeeded in finding ways and means of going through. Today the ban was rigid, though two or three times groups of people (mostly women and children) were suddenly allowed through the monastery and then the passage was blocked again, arguments ensued again and a rather large crowd assembled. After about an hour we called the commander of the area, Eli G, and he told us that the new terminal would be opened only in a months time, but as of today a period of “getting used to” would begin, so as to get the residents “used to” the fact that from now onwards they could go through, provided they were equipped with the necessary papers, of course, and only via the “legal”, “orderly” and “equipped” with services crossing, where buses and taxis will come and park and render services in a well regulated way. He also added that the soldiers still have some “discretion”, and from time to time they can allow people through, but this is only he being especially considerate because it is important for him to ease the life of the population. He also said that this change was supposed to save people the humiliations and the dangers that accompany the present crossing. It is noteworthy that people living west of the wall, in the nearby neighborhood, and working in Abu-Dis, will according to the new arrangement have to go east to the new terminal and then go back west quite a distance in order to return to their homes, journeys that will entail financial expenses and be time consuming.After a while we went to the new CP and realized that nothing was ready there: there was no running water in the taps, the toilets were closed and only a miserable unpaved lane led the few people who had come to cross over there. For some reason there was also a disgusting stench there. There were no buses and almost no taxis. We called Eli G again and asked where he got all those details about the well organized “crossing”. We had a long phone conversation with him, in which he suggested we meet with him the next day at the location and he would give us a “tour”… Utterly unnecessary, of course. We complained bitterly to him about the abusive attitude of the soldiers at Abu-Dis, and he responded that he would send the local “commander” there, and suggested we go back and pin point those acting rudely. “It is not acceptable” he said too sweetly, and again listed his advantages as a commander who seeks to safeguard the well being of the population.We went back to Abu-Dis and there entered a futile conversation with one of the soldiers and with the commander, Shitrit is his name, and there is no point in reporting the details of this conversation either. The coming days may be particularly difficult for the locals, and it is recommended that there will be shifts there who will needle the soldiers with their gazes and by observing the soldiers there. We think it is also worth while to appeal in writing to the higher authorities and demand that people be permitted to pass where they are used to, as humiliating and as horrible as these passages are, since no more “orderly” crossing is as yet available. “Olives Crossing” still seems very distant from any reasonable operation, if it is at all proper to thus describe it.