Abu Dis & Wadi Nar (Container) Tuesday 19 July 2005 AMObservers: Michaela R., Yael L., Hanna O., & Yehudit S. (reporting)Guests: Two Swiss cinematographers working for ARTE, with an Israeli producer 07:00 The Container The yellow gates were closed. It was impossible to go down the shortcut to the wadi, nor to take the old road to Al Ezariya.A large presence of security forces: a few Border Police soldiers, mostly IDF soldiers, including military police. There were two women soldiers, accompanied by a dog, but they did not stand with the dog at the checkpoint itself, but near the white building opposite. A little while later both women left with the dog in a car containing a special dog-cage. Also present was the DCO representative – the one who always refuses to give his name. He and a soldier came up to us and – like they did last week – asked us to stand by the shops because the place where we were standing (near the water trailer) is a “Checking Area” (a little variety for the word launderette). We asked whether something special is happening today and the DCO representative said that we would have to ask the Jerusalem wraparound DCO – they would give us the answers. It’s not the first time that he gives this sort of reply and refuses to co-operate.Two lines for cars going up from the south were opened, and waiting time ranged from five to ten minutes. A line of pedestrians was waiting for the turnstiles. From 07:15 on, many passengers (particularly young ones) are taken off minibuses and buses that come from the Bethlehem direction. One or two soldiers enter the vehicles and checked them. Passengers then have to re-enter the checkpoint through the turnstiles. and their papers are checked. We didn’t see any detainees.The Palestinians told us that they sorry that Haim Amsalem is no longer working here, as he treated them properly and made sure that they wouldn’t wait pointlessly. They want to intervene in the matter and write a letter.08:00 Al-Ezariya checkpoint A Jeep with four soldiers. At any given moment, between eight and ten cars were waiting. A detainee was waiting behind a taxi – he cited a 12-minute wait. Large vehicles – trucks and buses – overtook the taxis and, lengthening the taxis waiting periods. We didn’t see any detainees08:45 Abu Dis pishpashNear the Wall, Border Police soldiers with army backup. On the right side of the Wall, in the former pishpash. rolls of barbed wire now block passage. In the monastery courtyard there were three security people (with army backup too). Many women with babies and small children were crossing through the courtyard, all were allowed to continue: they probably have blue identity cards or a tasrich permit. The checks were random. Only three peasant women, with large sacks on their heads, were not allowed to cross. When we went down to the fuel station, we saw them, they had probably gone through the backyards.09:10 -At the low wall by the fuel station we saw 2 Jeeps and afterwards a Hummer up with six security people – many soldiers and Border Police soldiers. No one tried to cross at the gates they just stand behind the bars. A TV crew, seems to be from Southeast Asia, went through the gate using its narrow opening. A soldier said there a closure was in place (which they didn’t seem to have heard about at the upper pishpash) – crossing was permitted only for medical teams and international organisations.