Abu Dis, Container (Wadi Nar), Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal), Tue 30.12.08, Morning

7:00  Sheikh Saed

Few crossing, and no visible problems.  Black flags are mounted on some of the vehicles in the neighbourhood.  We tried to find out from the residents whether the events in Gaza affect their departure for work in Israel (and whether that is the reason for today's sparse crossing).  It seems not, judging by our brief conversations.

7:55  Zeitim Crossing

On its western Palestinian side, the checkpoint was almost empty.  Two corridors were open and a few persons crossed without delay.

8:30  Wadi Nar

Sparse vehicular traffic.  Delayed vehicles were released within minutes.  We met the DCO representative, just as he was leaving; he had been at the checkpoint, he said, since 6 a.m.  He told us that DCO representatives arrive several times a day.  But we gathered that there is no regular representative throughout the day.

8:30  The protest tent in Wadi Joz

The two tents from last week are still standing.  A black flag to identify with the residents of Gaza has been hung.  Several European activists spend the night there.  They tell us that yesterday a delegation of the European Union visited.  In the course of our conversation two women from the nearby homes on the other side of the road arrive.  They report of eviction notices whose due date was yesterday.  The women are on the verge of tears; they say the families' lawyers (representing several dozen persons) have given up, and they don't know when the authorities will arrive to evict them.  We spoke with Meir Margalit of the Committee Against House Demolitions (and a member of the municipal council).  He told us that he is familiar with the issue, that from the procedural-juridical point of view all possiblities have been exhausted, and that the only way to arrest the process is through international pressure.  He also said that they had been to see the American Consul who was "very anxious" about the affair.  And added that another 27 families were threatened (at various legal stages) with eviction from their homes.  He believes that they will all be served eviction notices in the coming months.

We updated the Peace Now team tracking this matter on these recent developments.