Abu-Dis, Wadi Nar Wed. 1.9.04 pmObservers: Noa R., Yael R., Ayelet P., Tirtza F. (reporter H.), Hagit S.(trans.)15:30 On the road which runs around the old city, outside the wailling wall,BP soldiers are positioned, as usual, to checkPalestenian inhabitants of Jerusalem.15:45 At the Hotel in Abu-Dis we see no detainees. 2 BPs on theground floor of the hotel demand we should not approach them.4 BPs arrive in a jeep and welcome us in a rather abusive language.We asked what is it they are guarding at the hotel and in response theypointed to the roof of the hotel: There is an elaborate antenna and whatlooks like a camera. Palestenian youngsters sitting in the yard of thebuilding opposit the hotel said there are 4 cameras on the roof. they alsotold us that sometimes at night the BPs bother them: they shout,cast light into their houses, and sometimes even shoot. They added thatdetainees are brought to the hotel for 2-3 hours and more.16:10 The pishpash gateThe same BPs we met at the Hotel were sitting chatting with thedrivers in front of the pishpash passage. The drivers were happy to tell usthat all is quiet at the moment as the infamous Gili has not been around fora while. Soon the BPs started checking IDs of pedestrians crossingthe passage into Jerusalem (all but elderly women) and once in a while ofthose crossing east too. A young woman with a green ID was denied passageand was sent back east. A few minutes later the commander crossed over tothe east side of the passage and returned some 15 minutes later through theyard of the convent, the route which circumvents the pishpash passage. Hemay have looked for the young woman, or for others attempting to avoid thecheck at the passage.16:55 Wadi Nar: the container.Only one lane for vehicles going north and south. 2 detainees on their waysouth were waiting for their IDs to be checked, and a transit car, on itsway north, was waiting as the ID of a single passanger (a young man) wasbeing checked. The driver of the transit said they have been waiting closeto an hour. The BP explained the long wait claiming the Shabak isslow responding. It took 25 minutes longer for everyone to get back his IDand proceed on his way.3 turnstiles (carusellas?) installed at the concrete lanes for pedestrianswas not yet connected to the electricity and therefore could be turned atwill in both directions. Pedestrians (mostly laborers who come on buses andtransit cars) pass with hardly any check on their way south to the transitcars parked on the south side of the CP.The commander of the BP, S. an officer, much older than the others (perhapsa reservist), politely explained that everyone in his CP who has a permitis allowed to pass; but, he added, he has a lot of discretion to makedecisions. Two principles guide his decisions: 1. never to fall into aroutine(i.e. never keep the rules clear, my words HS) 2. never underate thestrength of the enemy “eventhough they do not posess aeroplanes, one bulletshot by a gerilla fighter can kill you”. He claimed he does not know whatfor is the new erected caravan next to the military post “perhaps akitchinette, or a wc”.18:45 no flying CP on the road south of Ma’ale Adumim, nor on road 437leading to Hizme. About 200 m. south of Hizma CP a jeep with soldiersblocking the road and checking Palestenian vehicles. Hizma CP, as usual, aslight finger movement (a selector) directs vehicles to two lanes: Jews,non-Jews.