Abu-Dis

The road leading to Ras El Amud and
Jericho from the crossway near the Rockefeller Museum, was closed
by Blue Police. All traffic was diverted or sent back. We drove
along Mount Scopus Road and reached the traffic jam near Abu Dis at
about 15.50. No border policemen near the gate, but we were told
that they were there and closed it an hour ago and reopening about
15 minutes ago. "They treat us like animals" complained
workmen who were in a hurry to load some merchandise on a truck,
hoping to finish before the next closure. The same complaint was
repeated on the other side of the gate, at the end of a long and
bitter description of the Druze border policemen. Down at the Gas
Station, all was very quiet. border policemen in sight. Some young
men and boys (but no women) were scaling the wall and jumping over.
On our way back we stopped at the Damascus Gate. It was crowded,
the merchants doing brisk business. There were no policemen to be
seen. A couple of soldiers stood discreetly near an alley inside.
We strolled along the market road and they were not there when we
came back.