'Anata, Abu Dis, Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal), Thu 23.12.10, Morning

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Observers: 
shosh H., Michaela R. (reporting)
Dec-23-2010
|
Morning

     

 
 
 
6:50  Olive Terminal
 
As soon as we arrived a man came up to tell us that on Saturday the children were not allowed to cross and were compelled to return to their homes.  He emphasized the tearful frustrations, and the difficulties of handicapped children (from the special school Amira Basma in A-Tur) who arrive by special transportation to the checkpoint.
 
Three checking positions, not many people, but the slowness prevails.
 
The third position -- the children's -- appears to be the busiest.
 
A man who deigned to move forward towards the turnstile before his predecessor's checks were quite finished was treated to a particularly loud scolding.  The loud female soldier was not satisfied until he had moved all the way back.
 
Crossing time: 6-7 minutes.
 
 
A-Za'ayyem
 
We came by the road that passes below the highway; there's a small checkpoint there, the purpose of which is unclear.
 
Vehicles going down from A-Za-ayyem towards the main road were checked in front of the big checkpoint.  Checking was fast, a quick look at documents and occasionally into the trunk.
 
Passengers descended from the buses, crossed the fenced corridor and waited until the check was concluded.
 
 
Issawiya (near the eastern roundabout)
 
We saw neither jeep nor checkpoint.  Soldiers were scattered on the hills along the road as far as French Hill.  Also at the roundabout at the entrance to Issawiya, and at the roundabout turning towards Anata there was an increased presence of security foreces.
 
In Anata too  there was greater military presence.
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