Sheikh Saed
Uncollected garbage in Jabel Mukkaber; watermelon at the greengrocer's in Az-Za'ayyem; concessions this year, inshallah, for Ramadan.
6:40 Jabel Mukkaber and Sheikh Saed
Dafna tells of a demonstration this week of Jabel Mukkaber residents, about the neglect of garbage disposal. Today the streets look quite clean, but the dumpsters are overflowing. A resident tells us that yesterday a campaign of locals was organised -- a large group of children cleaned the streets for Ramadan. Only the garbage still remains.
Business as usual at the Sheikh Saed checkpoint, but the soldiers conduct a long and lively conversation with us about the justice of a separation wall between Jabel Mukkaber and Sheikh Saed. One of them says it's all written in the Bible, another admits that the Palestinians are seriously screwed, and that the solution must come through an agreement and, inshallah, the demolition of the wall. In the meanwhile, boys without school bags from Sheikh Saed await their transportation. Exams are almost over, and now they await a musical celebration at their school.
Crossing is tranquil, and the soldiers exercise common sense when they allow a woman, returning from visiting family in Sheikh Saed, to cross back through the checkpoint even though her blue ID indicates that she lives outside Jerusalem.
7:30 A-Tur
The sense of imminent summer vacation is palpable -- almost no pupils (except for elementary school). We saw no presence of police, border-police or vans.
7:45 Az-Za'ayyem
The gate from Jerusalem into the neighbourhood (open from 7-8 a.m., from noon to 13:00, and from 15:00 to 16:00) is about to close in 15 minutes, and we manage to cross into Az-Za'ayyem. During the rest of the hours those who wish to return to Az-Za'ayyem must drive as far as Ma'aleh Adumim or Mishor Adumim, make a U-turn and drive back, in order to enter through the Az-Za'ayyem checkpoint. The exit from the neighbourhood to Jerusalem is open all day.
We talk to a few residents who tell us that during the last month many have left (they speak of c. 1500 out of 7000 residents). All who could have moved to Jerusalem.
At the greengrocer's we buy a couple of watermelons -- to our surprise grown in an Israeli moshav. This of course is occupation economy -- bringing coals to Newcastle. Likewise, most dairy products (as well as hummus, labaneh, etc.) are produced by Israeli companies.
8:15 Phone call with Olive Terminal commander
We meant to visit Olive Terminal but could not return through Az-za'ayyem (gate closed), and had to use the road leading to Mount Scopus. We spoke on the phone with the commander about unlocking the toilet during Ramadan, and he promised to open during the hours of pressure, but then lock again to prevent vandalism as has already happened three times.
He tells us what we already know from Hanna Barag: this year men over 40 and women of all ages may enter for worship, as well as children of course. He says the crossing is very crowded with passengers from the West Bank crossing to tour in Israel. Many permits and organised tours from Nablus and Hebron cross at this checkpoint because of too much crowding at 300.
Something interesting which should be checked: he tells us that this year groups are allowed to cross through the Ofer camp checkpoint, so that those coming from Ramallah and the northern West Bank may avoid the pressure on Qalandia. Worth looking into!