Abu Dis, Container (Wadi Nar), Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal), Tue 4.12.07, Afternoon

  We went first to  Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal).  Now, with the new sheeting that totally blocks out any view of what is transpiring within the checkpoint area, we were not able to see what was going on.  However, we did monitor those entering and exiting from each side.  There was very little traffic.  Three young people heading towards Jerusalem, two heading back towards the Palestinian side.  In each case, it took about 6 minutes to get through.

We continued on to   Azariah and entered the village.  On our way out some 20 minutes later, there was a flying checkpoint and all those coming into the village were being stopped and checked.

The Wadi Naar crossing was manned by 5 border police (that we could see).  No one was at the station for vehicles from the south -- one of the b.p.'s would wave a car through and the ones behind would quickly follow before the rules changed.  Traffic moved very quickly in the other direction with very few vehicles being checked. 

In one instance when a car approached the checkpoint via a one way road, the driver was stopped by a b.p. and made to return, but the conversation was in quiet tones and without recriminations.

Interestingly enough, there were no workers returning during the time that we were there even though it was at the time workers usually returned home.  (15:00  until 16:00 )  Otherwise, there was nothing unusual in the shift.