Abu-Dis

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Nov-21-2003
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Observers: M. Z., R. M-F, R.
I.

Beit Fage corridor - 9:15 AM. The BP were stationed at the end of
the corridor and behind the lines of the fence. The soldiers do not
allow passage to those without a blue ID card - not even to those
with a permit in the past. The area officer, Yehudah, whom we
telephoned arrived within ten minutes and gave an order to allow
through everyone with a permit.

A young woman told us that she was refused and did not receive a
permit at the DCO because she is under 35. A man about 35 years
old, with a permit, was not allowed to pass checkpoint 300, nor
Wadi Nar. He arrived at the Beit Fage corridor by foot and various
transits. Here he passed through the checkpoint. At every
checkpoint the laws are different!

At the blocked "pishpash" at Abu Dis there is no passage.
Three soldiers, extremely rude, threatened to use tear gas. (also
on us - a soldier named Itzhak Kanafu says - "put on the
gas")

Gas station - 10:20 - about 20 people being held. After a phone
call to Yehudah, the area officer, their documents were returned
and some went to Jerusalem.

Container – 12:00 - About 200 meters before the checkpoint, people
are passing through the wadi. The transit drivers report on
"4000 people who are passing through here". The
checkpoint is quiet, except for 6 trucks waiting to pass, most of
them loaded with food. Azzam, the BP officer here, talks with us
and explains that the checkpoint is closed.

Residents of the houses above the checkpoint (the Oug'a
neighborhood) complain about difficulties in entering and exiting
their homes because of the increase in security measures around the
container. Barbed wire fences were erected all around and also a
pretty high cement wall. The area officer, Eldad Shosef, who
arrived to check out the site, talked with us at length. He
explained politely that the area is closed (“crowned”) and that the
letter we have from the IDF spokesman has nothing to do with it.
There is a warning of a terrorist attack and there is no passage
for the residents except in humanitarian cases. Concerning the
problems of the inhabitants of the area, according to him, the
residents of Oug'a refused to come to a meeting with him at the DCO
to organize access to their homes. At our request concerning the
trucks, Eldad promised to allow the drivers to pass through if they
have permits as residents of the area. And indeed, 5 out of 6 of
the trucks went through quickly (the hour was 12:52. The trucks
waited from 8:30, and one from 4:30 AM). The 6th driver was a
resident of Jericho and left.

On the way back, at 1:15, we saw a cement block that was knocked
down at the Abu Dis wall and allowed an easy passage for the
residents!