Morning

Abo Dis and Sawahre (Container, Wadi Naar). MON AM, 29 Dec 2003.MachsomWatch Observers: Ruhama W., Talia A.S 6:45 AM, at the Abu Dis wall.Two soldiers are marching a group of men to the gas station for a telephone check of their IDs. Turns out most of them have permits.When we ask why they need to be checked the soldiers answer is "maybe they are forged". After a short time they are all released and they turn to Jerusalem. Seven people, among them two women, are delayed for a while because of a problem with their documents. The women were not inclined to talk with us. By the hotel we can see the wall [Separation Fence] being built. We walk up to the "pishpash" [pedestrians' roadside passageway]. There are no soldiers there and people pass toward the taxis with no problem. We climb the wall and take a taxi to Sawahre (the "container"). The driver told us that he slept at night in his car because the soldiers would not let anyone pass at night. He says that sometimes it is easy to pass sometimes not, it depends on the soldiers. According to the driver, there is a soldier named "Scanda" when he is at the check point no one passes. At the container we meet Alexander, who is in charge of this checkpoint (? is this Scanda?). He requests that we speak only with him and not to bother people. He is "correct" but tough. We ask about the complaint that the checkpoint is not open and night and he replies that it is always open and working "like now." Checking is very slow but there are no long lines for cars. Buses and taxis are checked and once in a while someone is taken out and his documents checked.Three men who are considered suspicious wait by the side of the checkpoint. To our question why, we are told that they will be taken for interrogation.There are women IDF soldiers in the tent, but it is not clear what there job is. From where we stood it did not look like they were participating in anything. We take taxi back to Abu Dis. The driver and his friend show us the Separation Fence: an olive grove is separated from its owner and the only cemetery in the village is also on the other side of the fence -- so people need a permit to go to a funeral and they are conducted with very few people attending.They suggest a visit to one of the funerals and Ruhama gives her phone #We return to Jerusalem at 9:00 AM.