Abu Dis, Al Ezariya, Sawahre Sunday December 19, 2004 PMWatchers: Tsipi E, Chana A (translator)No special events to report15:15 Abu Dis: Turning left on the road going up to the bawabe (pishpash), we discover an empty road and a deserted crossing at the top where the bawabe is. Where teeming life used to be, there is now nothing. The courtyard of the convent is filled with barbed wire, and BP soldiers are around to make absolutely sure that no one crosses over . K., the commanding officer, comes over and explains that the crossing was closed in the morning for good. The transit taxis have left for other hunting grounds, i.e. the Az Za'ayyem CP. K. praises the move and finds it beneficial for the Palestinians. Of course, no one would do anything that isn't beneficial to them. Now they will have to go to the Az Za'ayyem CP (which we and our fellows of later watches have not been able to pinpoint) and everything will be fine and dandy. We go up the road to go through A-Tour and M. Olives to Al Ezariya. On the way up, by Al Phage, there are transits so there must be people who cross there, but we don't see any.15:50 Al Ezariya. The entrance is quiet and traffic flows without military presence. We take the old road to Sawahre.16:00 Sawahre. We arrive as a military exercise of some sort (looks like in Wild West films) is going on, stopping all the traffic. We meet R. A., who is his usual warm, outgoing self. Were glad to meet him after a long absence. Turns out he was substituting for A. B. who is occupied elsewhere (military training). For sure he and A. B. have put their stamp on this CP which is much more forthcoming to the public than others we have been watching in our line of duty!Motorized traffic flows, pedestrians are held up longer. Most people (men returning from work, usually in Jerusalem) are from Abadiya. One of the men is held up for lack of proper "tasrich". The two officers on duty are friendly, but firm, and won't let our friend through. He has to wait for twenty minutes, while we stand by him, and then gets a reprimand and a threat ("if it happens again, you'll be in for real trouble!") The man, father of a big family, is not amused. What is he going to do, his "boss" didn't get him a permit and he finds day work here and there. One can see the bitterness rising up in him.