Abu-Dis

M.Z., O. M. and R. M-F.

Abu Dis – at the former gate (pishpash) we were told about a
roadblock on the main road in Azariya, towards Abu Dis, so walked
down the hill by foot, and found a jeep indeed checking ID’s of
passing cars. They left soon after we arrived, and so we too
continued our walk to the Abu Dis side of the wall.

SAWAHRE: THE RESIDENTS IN OUTLYING HOUSES.

Two representatives of these residents, who complained last week
that they were not allowed across the checkpoint to the rest of
Sawahre, finally had the promised meeting we helped to arrange,
with Eldad – the BP commander of the region and Rafi Amsalem, from
the Matak. They were called on Wednesday, at one, and told they
should come at two (they apologized that therefore they did not
have the time to call us to join them, as we had offered to do),
and said they had a very good meeting, in which the officers were
very understanding of their situation and sincerely concerned about
finding a solution. This is also the feeling we got last week,
after meeting Eldad personally at the checkpoint.

The two representatives insisted that there should be free access
for all residents of Sawahre, not only for the families that live
in the outlying houses – because they are a part of Sawahre their
relatives and friends who live in other parts of the village should
be able to visit them. Finally, the officers agreed to this, and a
temporary passage was established on the dirt road on the right
side of the checkpoint compound, for all residents of Sawahre. The
officers will meet with those in higher command within the next ten
days, to determine if a road can be opened on the left side of the
compound, so that the residents can only pass by car.

Sawahre checkpoint:

ID’s were checked, most people were allowed through, the problem
was mainly with the cars. In four cases, the car passengers were
all allowed through but not their cars.

Three were driven by paramedics from the Red Crescent, and one by
two young men from Bethlehem, who rented a car to visit their
brother in Abu Dis. They were allowed through the very same
checkpoint earlier this morning, but could not get back. A Catch 22
situation – in order to get a permit, they would have to go to the
Matak in Gush Etzion – which is on the other side of the checkpoint
they were now not allowed to cross. And furthermore, men under the
age of 35 would not be allowed such permits anyway, so they knew
there was no point in asking for one.

The BP in charge, Amir or Amid Halabi (7251214) was very cocky and
it was impossible to talk seriously to him. We told him these are
not funny matters, and asked him if he knew about the program to
teach the soldiers at the checkpoints to behave in a civil way
towards the residents, and he said yes, he saw a report about it on
tv, and he enjoyed seeing how a resident was beaten up. No, he
would not hit himself, but it was like watching a Mickey Mouse
film…

We did not get anywhere with this Halabi, and called Haviv Edri,
who said he would not be in the region until Sunday, and told us to
call Nissim – (which we assume is the BP headquarters in Abu Dis).
Nissim spoke with Halabi on our phone, but nothing moved. We then
decided to call Rafi Amsalem, of the Matak.

He was in Eilat, but said to call him back in twenty minutes, he
will try to see what he could do. We called back – but by then his
phone was turned off…

We then called Igal, at the Civil Administration’s Humanitarian
Moked – who said he would try to help, and asked to speak to the
men with the rented car (in the meantime the others did make it
across) However, these men had disappeared – apparently they gave
up waiting, perhaps they will try at a later time, after this
specific commander has finished his shift.

Igal also gave us a lecture about not calling the Matak – demanding
that we call the Humanitarian Moked first – because that is what
they are there for, and we should not disturb the Matak. We said
that in the past the Humanitarian Moked has not proven very
effective, often they tell us to wait and do not call back, or say
they can’t do anything, and their information does not always match
what we observe in the field. We tell him that therefore it is a
lot more effective to speak directly to the officers in charge of
the Border Police at the checkpoint