Abu Dis, Container (Wadi Nar), Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal), Thu 10.1.08, Morning

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Observers: 
Yael Y., Shira V. (reporting)
Jan-10-2008
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Morning

The watch took place on the day Bush visited Jerusalem, and on the background of the general curfew that was announced on the media, as a result of his visit.

09:50 The pishpash (Alboaba)

One person went eastwards (they checked his documents in order to make sure that he is in the list of people permited to go through), and one woman entered towards town. There were not special problems. On the way we passed by an impressive hotel in Abu Dis that a few years ago still worked, and now is a BP standpoint, is deserted, and all its windows are broken.

 
10:15 Zeitim passage

There were more vehicles parked in the western parking lot than we expected to find, on the grounds on the curfew. A bus full of children arrived from the west, let the children off, and they crossed the checkpoint running towards the east. A very thin and flowing movement of people westwards. We took time according to one woman holding a babyinfo-icon that crossed within a few minutes. An Aurstralian tourist who rented a car and wanted to get to the Sea of Galilee through the Jordan Valley got confused, missed the road, and found himself in the parking lot. We helped him to get back to the main road by leading the way for him.

 
10:40 Wadi Naar

A vivid trafic on vehicles in both directions, and more through checking than the usual. As we artrived we saw 3 vans heading south detained. two of them we released a few minutes later, and the third was released half an hour after we arrived. The passengers (at least the men) were standing outside. A lorry loaded with cows that came from Ezariye was detaind and at the end, probably because of a missing document (the soldiers in the checkoint were talking with the driver and made some phone calls), turned around and returned to where it came from.

In order to have a better view on the vehicles going southwards that were detained, we entered into the area of the checkpoint (the sleeves that are intended for pedestrians). The soldiers demanded at first that we leave the place, but after a short discussion they let us stay.

As we left the place we say on the roof of our car many small stones. Beforehand, when we stood inside the checkoint, as soldier came up to us and made sure that the car parked in front of the checkpoint is ours.