Abu-Dis, Wadi-Nar 17.03.04 Watchers: Rina H., Chana G., Rahel W. We took a ride up to the hotel to see what was happening there. The wall is getting closer– almost touching the wall around the hotel. It is difficult to know just where it is going, because it twists and turns so often; it seems to have been designed by a drunken sailor. There were two Border Police jeeps near the Pishpash gate. We crossed over and our driver first took us behind the monastery to see what was happening there. The path that used to enable people to walk to A-Tur is now blocked, and at the rate construction is going, the area will be totally sealed by next week. We then went to near Al Quds where the wall, being built from two different directions, will soon be closed. We were told that some 60 people already got evacuation orders and will end up on the Jerusalem side of the fence, even though many of them have green or orange IDs. We were told that the workers were on the job 24 hours a day. Palestinians who are building the wall get paid 500 shekels a day. Interestingly enough, our driver and his friend had no ill feelings toward those who were working on the wall. They had families and had to eat, and this was a chance to save up for the days ahead, when they will be totally sealed off from all work opportunities. Things were relatively quiet at Wadi-Nar. There were 7 detainees, but they were released in under a half hour. Cars were sporadically checked.On the way back, we were stopped at a flying checkpoint in the middle of Abu-Dis — first time that has ever happened. At the same time, we saw a helicopter flying overhead, so there was obviously some kind of an alert. When we got to the Pishpash gate, we found it closed, and about 50 people waiting, among whom were some old women and a woman with an infant. We complained to the Border Police on duty there, and they said: “Tell them to come through.” All women were quickly allowed to pass, but the men were held there.Rina called Mike, who said that there was a closure but that the Pishpash would be reopened within 10 minutes. When that didn’t happen after 10 minutes, she called again and he said that people should be allowed through. She went to the Border Police person and asked her to speak directly to Mike. When she refused, Rina said in a loud voice: “Mike, the soldier refuses to speak to you!” Mike then called the person in the jeep who ordered the soldier to take the phone. The men who had blue IDs were then let through, but it was only a partial victory. The soldiers checked slowly each and every person passing, so that while the men were allowed to get through, the going was very, very slow.