Abu Dis, Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal), Thu 17.10.13, Morning

Place:

Abu Dis

Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal)

Observers:

Rachel M., Michaela R. (reporting)

Oct-17-2013

Morning

Olive Terminal

Id al Idha

We arrived at 8:00 and it was very quiet. A large group of people from Al-Ezariya arrived and waited for family members from A-tour. They hired 2 buses for a day of fun in Jaffa and Tel-Aviv. If all members of their family had been given permits, they said, they would have required 4 buses.

The atmosphere was cheerful, people smiling.

Location Description

Abu Dis / Lazarus gate (formerly The Wicket)

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Lazarus Checkpoint/Gate (east of the former “wicket”)

Construction of the wall in the Abu Dis area blocked all the gaps that allowed people to cross from al-Ezariya to the neighbourhoods of Abu Dis and Ras al 'Amud that are located within Jerusalem’s municipal boundary. The Lazarus checkpoint is a gate in the wall adjacent to the Lazarus Monastery. Until 2011 it had a door for pilgrims to al-Ezariya and for the monastery’s kindergarten pupils from al-Ezariya. The crossing is currently closed, but the site has infrastructure for conducting inspections.

Ras Abu Sbeitan (Olives Checkpoint)

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A large checkpoint/crossing to the area of a-Tur, Abu Dis and the Old City; only for pedestrians. Located on Jerusalem’s municipal boundary.

One of the major crossings in Jerusalem’s central sector. It is located on the separation fence between the northern portion of the al-Ezariya neighborhood and the neighborhood of a-Tur and the rest of East Jerusalem. It is manned by Border Police soldiers and private security companies and operates 24 hours a day. Palestinians are forbidden to go through, other than permanent residents of East Jerusalem (holders of blue ID cards) and holders of work and commercial permits who are allowed through only on foot.