The seam east and north of Jerusalem, Issawiya..
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Observers: Phyllis, Yael (reporting)
The seam east and north of Jerusalem, Issawiya...
We intended to cover all the checkpoints between Arab and Jewish Jerusalem.
In the direction of Kalandia in Beit Hanina we saw only 2 soldiers who seemed to be passing through. In the old checkpoint of A-ram (Dahiat al Barid) there were no Israeli security forces, and we did not see a checkpoint on the way to Ramallah.
Human traffic at 4 p.m. was sparse, ditto vehicular traffic relative for this hour. From time to time we saw border-police vehicles, driving here and there...
The first forces we encountered were on the border of the Shuafat refugee camp, close to the Light Rail station which had recently been attacked several times. A jeep on one side, three soldiers at the next intersection, and another jeep which came to visit during our very brief stop.
We went on to Issawiya where a border-police base has been set up behind the gas station, along with a checkpoint. A car was inspected, but a pedestrian woman with two girls were not checked. I asked her about checkpoints in the village or at other exits, but she didn't know of any -- this is the route they always use.
We continued to Sheikh Jerach. A jeep at the entry into Shimon Ha-tatzadik St. was checking a car.
This drive last longer than 75 minutes because traffic on Highway 1 was heavy. It was getting dark, and we did not continue to other places.
The presence of border-police highlights the separation of Jerusalem. The city never was -- and probably doesn't want to be -- a united city.