including Sho'afat

Abu Dis, Sawahre & Sho'afat refugee campSun. 26 December 2004 AMObservers: Sylvia P. & Ofra B. (reporting) The shift was from 06:30 to 09:15 a.m.06:50 – Sho'afat refugee camp – Mud. Many pedestrians despite the early hour, but no lines – neither for cars nor for people. Two young Border Police women soldiers greeted us cheerfully and talked to us, but were then restrained by their commander, who prohibited them from talking.One waiting man, who may or may not eventually reach Jerusalem and work in construction, said we should come at noon. That’s when the action begins, he said, when stones are thrown from up top.07:10 – Az-Za’ayyem checkpoint – People went through without hitches; there were no yellow taxis waiting in line, and no detainees.07:20 – Sawahre checkpoint – The road was closed by an iron pole, so we drove straight on thinking that we were on the way to Kedar. We found ourselves, however, in a garbage dump and drove back on our tracks. When we returned, we found that the road had been opened.A long line of cars was trailing from south to north – the cars were at a standstill, and the soldiers were not getting them through. Ten minutes later the line was freed up and vehicles were allowed to cross over again. The randomness of the checks was remarkable – the Transit vans, buses and trucks had no way of knowing upfront which of them would be checked. Randomness seems to be another weapon in Israel’s armoury.08:15 – The pishpash gate in Abu Dis – Closed from all directions. There is no crossing, and no way of getting out of it. The intention is for people and children living near the wall to make a huge detour to get to school, visit relatives, get back from the university or hospitals which are on the other side of the wall. This has been written innumerable times, but when it’s thrown in your face, it scores a direct hit.There are now three routes -1. The first – old – wall, alongside of which there’s a mound of stones.2. The second wall – the high one – which from the north can be crossed around by climbing the monastery wall and jumping off it (2-3 meters) - elderly women do this too - and from the south by crossing through the courtyards of adjacent houses. In the corner were two Border Police jeeps, guarding desultorily.3. Some ten meters to the west of the wall the road has been dug up and totally ruined - lumps of stone and cement are scattered across it. This has effectively closed off the junction where buses, taxis and Transit vans used to park and drive cross.To ensure that no taxis park there, the edges of the kerb have been painted in pretty red and white stripes. An absurd phenomenon, in this filthy and derelict site.N., who once used to drive people across, now stands there some other drivers – they have no work at all. They say that the new crossing, near Az-Za’ayyem, is awash in mud and people don’t use the site. It was a tough conversation. None of them are able to support their families. One said that he had moved his children to his parents’ home, so they would have something to eat.The problem of N. and another driver is that they are married to Palestinian women. They are being messed around in terms of getting their children registered in their blue (Israeli) IDs. They can’t arrange health insurance and are not receiving National Insurance allowances (they have to repay large sums for their work in former years).One of them told us that attempts are being made to coerce him into working for the General Security Service (the Shabak). He refuses to do so. There is talk of turning to crime – running drugs or arms. We suggested they seek advice at the Humanitarian Center. A tough and depressing conversation.