Abu Dis, Sawahira ash Sharkiya, Sheikh Saed
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A-Tur, Abu Dis, Suwaharra, Sheikh Saed, Tsur Baher, the Ring Road
We began the shift at 07:00 when the kids leave for school and the adults for work. We observed no unusual movement at A-Tur.
We continued to Abu Dis and soon ran into a traffic jam. After we managed to move forward we discovered a large truck loaded with a crane trying to negotiate entry into a narrow alley. It turned out that a "mysterious hand" had broken though the barbed wire and parts of the separation wall, which are now being mended. By whom? Palestinians, of course, always the victims of this wall.
We continued on the American road, and suddenly one of the "wonders of the occupation" came into view. Since building permits are not to be had, and "illegal construction" is quickly demolished, a "solution" has been found: the minaret of a mosque made of iron poles between which there is an empty space, and the mosque's dome is made of glass. Is and is not, at once!
At the Suwaharra checkpoint there is no movement. The peak hour is over. In the mornings, students and pupils cross without inspection. But on return they must cross through the distant Olive Terminal.
Sheikh Saed
Empty. Pupils, teachers and labourers have crossed. The parking lot next to the "magnificently constructed" wall is also one of the wonders of the occupation. The lot is intended for trekkers and mountain climbers, located at the foot of a hill from which the climb to the checkpoint is long, steep and arduous. No wonder it's empty. At the checkpoint itself there are steps to climb and no provision for the handicapped. This is the Architecture of Occupation, worthy of awards! Surprisingly, no one came to remove us from the spot in which we stood, the only one from which goings-on at the checkpoint can be observed. We will continue to fight for the right to look and report.
We intended to visit Jabel Mukabber, but encountered a road-block on the Ring Road. A police helicopter hovered above us, and in a nearby field there were many police cars, vehicles carrying horses, and even a portable toilet -- all with the appearance of a prolonged stay. We called a friend in Jabel Mukkaber and learned that the action is in Tsur Baher.
We drove to Ramat Rachel and approached Tsur Baher from there. After driving along a narrow and winding road which required advanced driving skills, we met a friendly taxi driver who advised us to turn back, which we did. The turn into the Ring Road was blocked. There were many policemen at the intersection, along with armed and tense Shabak personnel. While we waited for the road to open, the Prime Minister's convoy flew by on the way to visit his "citizens" in order to threaten them with the same old and recurrent words of "we will not tolerate..." and "we will not let this happen..."
We returned to a Jerusalem "united forever" at 10:00.