Abu Dis, Container (Wadi Nar), Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal), Thu 24.12.09, Morning

5:45 Zeitim Teminal

Many workmen have already crossed and are waiting for transportation.  A fast-moving stream of people emerges from the crossing -- no line in front of the turnstile, and short lines inside.

 

Az-Za'ayyem Checkpoint

 

Each Palestinian bus parks in its regular place in the lot.  The passengers descend, cross through a "cage" of metal fences towards an opening.  The bus moves foreward, a soldier/guard checks it, his mate checks the documents of passengers re-embarking on the bus.

Why this metal cage? Someone must have an extra budget.

Vehicles descending from Az-Za'ayyem are checked one by one before the checkpoint.  This must be an arrangement for the busy hours of congestion, intended to ease the passage of settlers hurrying to work.  During other hours the vehicles coming from Az-Za'ayyem blend into the traffic flowing through the checkpoint.