Container (Wadi Nar)
06/05/2013 ,Afternoon
Julia W., Rahel W. (reporting)
Anata
We went first to Anata at just about the time that children were getting out of school. We noticed about 10 young girls, most of them appeared to be 3rd or 4th graders walking on the sidewalk along side vehicular traffic. It was quite hot and this would be a short cut for them. As they approached the checkpoint, two border police approached them and obviously scolded them and would not allow them to proceed across the checkpoint. Several of the children retraced their steps and went the long way through the designated path for pedestrians. Apparently two ore three of the girls managed to climb over the metal fence. Considering the nonchalant attitude of the children as they approached the checkpoint, we had to assume that on previous occasions they were allowed to take this short cut. Like so many other things, it was a matter of luck, and this time, the luck was not in their favor.
Al Ezariya
Very little traffic in Eyzariya.
Container (Wadi Nar)
We proceeded to Wadi Nar and were approached, almost immediately by a border policeman. He was very familiar with machsomwatch and was quite pleasant toward us. He said that just that morning, they had seized a terrorist who came with 300,000 dollars or shekels (it was not clear) for distribution in Abu Dis. He also said that almost every evening, there is some kind of hostile activity near the checkpoint. He said that the water supply had been cut; fires had been set, etc.
A second border policeman then approached, a Bedouin from the north. He said that all the male members of his tribe enter the army even though they do not get the benefits coming to them. He complained that his family was not allowed to build a home and had to live with his grandparents. But then he said, “But what can we do. That’s the way things are”.
Traffic moved quite smoothly although the occasional car was pulled over for inspection. No vehicles coming from the south were stopped. Vans were lined up to transport workers, but during the time we were there (between 3:00 and 4:00 p,m.), no workers came through,
08/04/2013 ,Afternoon
Chana G., Rahel W. (reporting)
Anata, Azariah, Wadi Naar, April 8, 2013 p.m.
We went first to Anata. Traffic was moving smoothly in both directions. We arrived at about 2:00 p.m., after school dismissal, so there was much less traffic than usual. Apparently, in honor of Pesach (or Obama, or just because the situation was getting out of hand), the area of the parking lot was somewhat cleaned up, although piles of rubbish were still to be found along the barbed wire.
Al-Ezariya was quiet. About two years ago, with help from the US government, a real effort was made to clean up the place, expand the roads, plant trees, and give the place a new look. The efforts worked for a while, but the place is once again getting its old seedy look back. The improvements are not being maintained and the sparks of optimism that came along with the refurbishing are much dimmer.
There was a lot of traffic at Wadi Nar, but it moved smoothly in both directions. New stop lights have been installed in both directions. It is difficult to understand to what purpose they were placed there, but such measures are yet more investment in maintaining the status quo. Vans were parked ready to bring the workers back to the Bethlehem side, but with the longer days, no workers were yet around to utilize them
05/03/2013 ,Morning
Dafna S., Anat T. (reporting)
6:45 Sheikh Saed
The trash bins are overflowing and piles of rubbish are scattered all along the road descending to the checkpoint. Stench is in the air. Pupils on their way to different schools wind their way between the piles.
We report to the person in charge of the area from the sanitation deprtment of the municipality. He says the garbage will be removed today, as is done three times a week. It seems this is not enough. He tells us that along the American Road the removal of construction rubble has begun. Is this related to the ring-road which has been approved; and what's the connection? Perhaps someone in the delegation of area planners was shocked by the state of the roads and the sanitation.
The slopes of the Sheikh Saed hill are dotted with a thick carpet of blue garbage bags. The locals say that a garbage truck arrives from Ramallah once a week to collect, and meantime they dump the bags, and occasionally burn them. The neighbourhood is without doubt neglected both by Israel and the Palestinian Authority. To be sure they don't pay taxes, neverthelss the infra-structure is in appalling condition.
The soldiers this time don't oppose our arrival. Many vehicles await passengers to Behtlehem and Jerusalem. Passage is quick and smooth.
7:15 Sawaharra and Al-Sharkiya Checkpoint
Along the road winding from the checkpoint many pupils are walking to school in Jerusalem. A few minibuses pass but in general few cars use this road and people mostly walk long distances.
At the checkpoint itself a massive new shelter has been raised over the road and we film a rare spectacle: a car crosses the checkpoint for vehicles, is checked, then the barrier rises and car proceeds westward to Jerusalem. A miracle we had not seen before. But we did not see how this works in the opposite direction where there is a considerable distance between the soldiers and the crossing point. The checkpoint commander (a woman) doesn't seem to understand why we're here and how she should deal with us, but her natural intelligence and cordiality overcome her suspicions and she talks to us at length, but will reveal nothing about those crossing. We can see that it's all on listed the pages she holds, including IDs and car registration. In answer to our question whether the list includes residents of Sheikh Saed she says she "doesn't know."
7:45 Silwan
The archaeological salvage dig at the Bustan intersection continues despite cold and rain. The archaeologist tells us that a tower, a wall, and a cistern from the second temple period have been revealed, and that it has been decided not to lay the sewage pipe here; she means to continue digging as far as possible before closing this salvage dig. Hard to miss the enthusiasm of the archaeologists' Holy Grail: The City of David. Where the pipe that is supposed to serve the residents of Silwan will be laid remains unclear.
8:20 Wadi Nar
A number of dirt roads branch off the broad and comfortable road between Al Ezariya and Wadi Nar, but it's not clear whether this is the necessary extension of the last section leading to the hill with the checkpoint.
For the time being one must continue to climb the steep cliff which is officially a one-way road but with scary surprises jumping out at us from the opposite direction.
At the checkpoint the soldiers (including a woman) are standing on the side going south to Bethlehem. The checking booth on the other side is not manned. These soldiers are from a new division, and don't show any particular interest in the pack of dogs -- more than 10 -- surrounding the checkpoint. At some point a fight between two packs of dogs begins, with much barking and threatening snarls. You would surely not want to be a Palestinian caught in this scary scuffle.
With respect to the conduct of the checkpoint: no problems, no delays, traffic now flowing in both directions.
21/01/2013 ,Afternoon
Chana G., Julia W., Rahel W. (reporting)
We went first to Anata. The parking lot was strewn with filth and broken glass. It appears that the place is never cleaned. While traffic and individuals went through their respective checkpoints with little delay, the border police on duty had some need to shout at people through loud speakers.
Ezariya: When we arrived at Ezariya, there was a (blue) police patrol checking cars leaving the area with the result of a traffic backup that extended into the middle of Ezariya – up to the place of the mosque.
Wadi Naar: We were very apprehensive about travelling to Wadi Naar via the new road because it was already in bad condition before the storms a week ago, (especially at the second turn) going up. We contacted our former driver Sammy to meet us in Ezariya and take us up so that we would be able to see the condition of the road before venturing out on our own. The area with the pot holes is indeed worse after the bad weather of last week and we would strongly advise against using that road. Sammy then took us down and showed us another road that leads into the village but then continues to the checkpoint. The new road intersects with the road that we used to take from the “pishpash” in Abu Dis. The latter road appeared to be much safer and that is what we will be taking henceforth.
There was very little traffic at Wadi Naar. The few cars that went through in both directions did so with no delay.
02/01/2013 ,Morning
Adit S., Anat T. (reporting)
A quiet morning despite Feiglin's visit to the Temple Mount yesterday;
in Wadi Nar the pack of dogs is back
7:00 Sheikh Saed
Traffic is sparse, workmen crossed earlier, and children are on winter vacaion. The vehicle barrier went up suddenly (perhaps to protect against rust) -- we've never seen a vehicle cross here.
7:40
Silwan
Silwan We decided to go through the main street, Ein Hilweh, to see if there are checks or barriers on account of the tension created by Feiglin's provocative visit yesterday, and were glad to find no unusual presence of soldiers or policemen. Is everything in the underground tunnels
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?8:00 Wadi Nar
On approaching we saw several cars headed for Bethlehem (south) being checked. The reason, we were told, was investigation of criminal activity. The checkpoint still looks like a dog pound (see photos), this time with puppies. At our request the dogs are placed at a distance and we approach cautiously. The soldiers say the dogs give them a sense of security especially on Fridays when groups of drunks return from Jericho.
For our entire stay traffic was not stopped.
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07/11/2012 ,Morning
Idit S., Oren (guest) Anat T. (reporting)
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7:50 Sheikh Saed Checkpoint
From a distance, we observe a line of men waiting to cross, but during our stay crossing was fast, and children were given priority, without unnecessary checking of documents.
The U.S. election results interest no one here. Oren is collecting materials for his doctoral dissertation, at the University of San Francisco, on the social and cultural effects of the checkpoints in Arab Suwahara neighbourhoods, including Sheikh Saed, Jabal Mukhaber, Suwahara Al-Arabia and Suwahara Al-Sharkiya, which explains why in many ID's of Sheikh Saed residents it says that their place of residence is Suwahara, although they live in Sheikh Saed.
8:00 Drive through Silwan
No change in the traffic through Wadi Hilweh, and no checks or checkpoints. Cars park on both sides of the road; the parking lot below is full of construction rubble and there is little room for cars, an oddity considering the parking distress in the neighbourhood.
Excavations in the Givati parking lot continue. The people from the Antiquities Authority report that a very large Roman building has been exposed and will be open to the public. What happened to the Muslim remnants along the way?
8:30 Anata/Shuafat Checkpoint
We got stuck in dreadful traffic and arrived too late. Filth everywhere, and the gate for special bussing is now closed. The correct hours to be here are between 7 and 8. Traffic flows unimpeded and there are almost no pedestrians.
9:00 Wadi Nar
Despite our apprehensions we come across only one dog at the checkpoint. In reply to our questions, the soldiers tell us that the dogs are "above" and "they protect us from strangers entering the checkpoint."
The army spokesperson's document regarding the completely civilian nature of the checkpoint surprises the soldiers. We give them a copy of the document for their perusal.
During our stay no vehicles were stopped and traffic flowed without interruption.
29/10/2012 ,Afternoon
Chana G., Julia W., Rahel W. (reporting)
Today was the last day of Eid el Adha, so there was very little traffic. Children were off from school so things were very quiet at the Anata checkpoint. Mercifully, there was none of the shouting through the loudspeakers which has become characteristic (and offensive) at this checkpoint.
Almost all shops, except for food stores were closed in Azariah. Also, at the Wadi Nar crossing, there was very little traffic and almost no commercial traffic. Very quiet day.
21/10/2012 ,Afternoon
Chana G., Julia W., Rahel W. (reporting)
Anata
There was a lot of activity . Loads of school children were dropped off and made their way through the pedestrian checkpoint. There were also many vehicles going in both directions.
A most disturbing phenomenon of the past few weeks at Anata is that the border police seem to feel a necessity to shout through loud speakers for no apparent reason. Instead of speaking to the drivers or to people in the area, they use loud speakers creating a most oppressive atmosphere.
Also, it must be mentioned that the parking area, which is part of the
Al-Ezariya
: About a year or two ago, the area got a real facelift. The road was expanded into four lanes – two in each direction – with a tree planted esplanade in the middle. Many shops got a face lift and there was a definite area to upgrade the whole place. Unfortunately, the area is reverting to its previous state. Trash piles up, and there is a feeling of neglect
Wadi Nar
An unusually high volume of traffic. Huge numbers of vehicles of all kinds going in both directions. During the whole time we were there, there were two cars heading south pulled over, quickly checked, allowed to continue, and then another two cars pulled over, checked, etc. The checking time was very fast – no one was kept waiting more than 5 to 7 minutes. No vehicles heading toward the container were stopped.
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15/10/2012 ,Afternoon
Chana G., Julia W., Rahel W. (reporting)
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Anata
The Anata checkpoint was very busy with vehicles going in both directions without delay. Also, large numbers of school children were walking along the path leading to the crossing of the Palestinian side. There were very few people entering the Israeli side. The parking lot for vehicles is getting filthier by the day. There are large areas of broken glass which remain untended to.
Wadi Nar
Traffic moved very smoothly at Wadi Nar. During the time we were there, no vehicles were stopped and all were allowed to pass without incident.
11/10/2012 ,Morning
Rahel M., Michaela R., (reporting)
6:15 Olive Terminal
Two lanes are open, a line of about 10 people in each, a short wait of a few minutes.
We signed up a man who wishes to be released from "refusal" with the devoted help of Silvia.
7:00 Wadi Nar
A pack of barking dogs greets us -- scary and unpleasant.
At the checkpoint the soldiers are busy making toast and eating. Vehicles go past without benefit of a look in their direction.
7:20 Az-Za'ayyem
Passengers disembarking from buses join the line inside the barbed-wire corridor. A soldier and a guard get on the bus, take a quick look and descend. The passengers show their documents to the soldier, he glances, and they return to the bus. A routine of free passage (for those armed with the necessary papers).
