Anata-Shu'afat, Issawiya

:

Traffic flowing without hindrance in both directions.  There is little traffic mid day.  The real problem is in the early morning hours when there are huge backups.

 

Issawiya:  exit to Mt. Scopus.  For whatever reason, a police tape was placed across what was once the roadway for vehicles leaving Issawiya.  Also, additional impediments were placed across the road even though, with the large concrete barriers that have been there for the past two months, there is no possibility of cars getting through.

 

Issawiya: exit to French Hill.  A tent has been erected for the benefit of the soldiers stationed there.  That is in addition to the “butke”.  Traffic continues with just one lane open serving both those entering and leaving.

 

Issawiya:  exit to road leading to Maaleh Adumim.  Here too, there is just one lane available to those leaving and coming.  At the time we passed by, the area was unmanned and there was minimal traffic.

 

When we returned from the Maaleh Adumim area, there was a traffic  backup extending all the way from the checkpoint area through the tunnel from the Mount Scopus area.  Ordinarily, there is no checking of vehicles heading east, but yesterday, (at about 3:20 p.m.) all cars were being checked.