Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal)
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Ras Abu Sabitan (Olive Terminal), A-Tur
Olive Terminal
We arrived at 6:50. There were lines in front of the first two stands, and a long line opposite the third — the one intended for quick passage of pupils.
At the first stand the soldiers were deep in conversation with each other, one of them had his feet on the table. In the "acquarium" a soldier, wrapped in his prayer shawl, was busy praying. In the third stand progress was very slow. Now and then the soldiers turned back pupils for a second inspection of their belongings by the x-ray machine. Each time the turnstile performed one half or one quarter of a turn. The children were crowded and crossed by twos and threes. The little ones were in danger of getting squashed. In Israel, parents are instructed to accompany their children to the gates of the schools; here we saw a concerned parent watching the passage of his children through the turnstile — he may watch but not accompany.
A-tur
The border-police have returned to the streets of A-Tur. There were three groups of them in the main street. Opposite one of them stood/sat some youths. Both groups were marking their territory. Tension in the air. A small stone flew but did not trigger a response. An older man, apparently from the educational staff, was summoned by a passer-by, and scattered the boys before a further eruption could take place. Further on, at the street corner facing the boys' elementary school, we saw charred concrete blocks (attached photo), and we learned that the street had been blocked a day or two ago. Here the atmosphere was calm, without the presence of security forces.
Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal)
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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.
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