'Anata-Shu'afat, 'Isawiya (East Jerusalem), Al-Ezariya, Container (Wadi Nar)

Quiet day.  Little movement at Anata.  Exits from Issawiyya open as they were prior to Pence’s visit – totally open to French Hill and to road to Maaleh Adumim, and blocked by cement impediments but open to pedestrians and motorcycles.

Azariah:  More depressing week by week.  Soon it will be one big dump interspersed with some fine, beautifully designed homes. On our way back from WADI Nar, we noticed a rather elegant building called the Royal Palace – perhaps a hotel—and right in front of it, garbage was being burned.

  On the way to WADI Nar, we saw cement mixers and other vehicles at the site near the Bedouin encampment which had been cleared away and on which extensive preparatory work was done about two years back.  As for the Bedouin encampment, it seemed largely deserted, but there are still people living there as attested to by the blankets and laundry.  All the animals must have been out to pasture.  We don’t know if this is one of the

Bedouin encampments that Amira Hess has been writing about.   It is, indeed, right next to Azariah.

Also, we don’t know who is responsible for running Azariah.  Is it the PA?, a local municipal council? Some other body?  Someone must be responsible for the lack of services and the rotting away of the place.  If anyone has any information, it would be appreciated.