A tour of neighbourhood checkpoints in Jerusalem on the day of a protest strike

A tour of neighbourhood checkpoints in Jerusalem on the day of a protest strike

Following acts of terrorism by individuals in the previous two weeks, Minister Ben Gvir announced his intention to launch a major military operation in East Jerusalem so as to “regain control of the area". After a week of home demolitions which proceeded at an increasing rate, protest demonstrations and collective punishment, several neighbourhoods in Jerusalem announced a civilian strike and the closing of the neighbourhoods to all kins of traffic on Sunday, 19.2.23. Young people have been blocking access roads in several neighbourhoods since last night, and most businesses were closed on Sunday. Some of the workers went out on foot, but most did not go to work.

We toured the Jabel Jebel Mukabber neighbourhood and Sheikh Saed checkpoint; in Silwan, in the area of the Damascus gate, Wadi Joz, At-Tur and the Olive checkpoint. Also, the main entrance to Isawiya.

On the morning of the shift, most of the neighbourhoods we saw were blocked off, empty but quiet. Most of the workers stayed at home and there was a strike including the shops and workshops. We did not see security forces in action. There is an atmosphere of shutting down life, but not demonstrations and rage.

Does the day of the shutdown of commerce and of refraining from going to work accompanied by the calls for a civil uprising signify that the Palestinian side in Jerusalem has discovered its power to influence the economy of Jerusalem and Israel? Time will tell. 

The entrance to Zur Baher and the Jebel Mukabber area - we crossed the Hebron Road and drove from the Ramat Rachel junction to the entrance to Zur Baher. There was no barrier at the entrance and the road was almost empty. A labourer walking down the road with a bag of food said that the shops were closed and that most of the laborers did not go to work in the morning. 

Jebel Mukabber - the grocery store, the falafel and the famous knafe shop at the junction for the descent to the schools were open. These are the only shops we saw operating in the neighbourhood. Overturned and still burning garbage containers blocked several exits from the village. We went down the American road on a steep slope, and when we got confused in one of the alleys, a neighbour who went out with his wife in a car led us carefully after him, through the makeshift roadblocks. Like everyone else who saw us, he warned us not to walk around the neighbourhood alone, even with a Machsomwatch flag. 

We arrived at the Sheikh Saed checkpoint which is intended for pedestrians only. The checkpoint is open for those who wanted to go through but was deserted. The buses are not running either. Single cars drive on the southern part of the American highway towards Bethlehem. We wanted to get to Silwan by the American road, but even before turning there, in Sawahra al-Gharbia, there was a massive, improvised roadblock and several young people and an older man were standing next to it. They allowed emergencies to pass, and expressed concern that we would get into trouble with the police when they came. 

We went back to the Armon Hanatziv promenade. There were police in the square, but we realized that they were handling a car accident that got stuck in a pole. Could it be that the young driver was very frightened by the presence of the security forces at Wasta Square? We didn't stop to find out. 

  The Nablus gate, A-Tur and the Olive checkpoint - we were curious to know what was happening at the Nablus gate. The bagel stands are working, and some of the shops on the main street are open, but there is definitely no lively commercial atmosphere. The movement of people is sparse both there and on the street. Several people stand for ID checks near the guard booth on the way down to the gate. The police stayed inside. 

What was surprising and worrisome was that the entire area of sidewalks close to the gate has been excavated from the bus parking lot and almost to the flower gate, and the police square is also undergoing serious renovation. Will everything be ready for Ramadan? If not, the access to the Nablus Gate during the most active period will be catastrophic. 

We went up through Wadi Joz to At-Tour and drove to the Olive checkpoint. Not many cars on Makassed hospital road which is always very busy. We did not enter the Olive checkpoint, but there were no driver's cars outside, and no buses at all. The dispatcher of the transports concluded that today the checkpoint is "dead". This means that probably even from Al Eizariya and the south, today few workers, students, and the sick are going to Jerusalem. 

  Shuafat refugee camp checkpoint, the entrance from the French hill to Isawiya and Sheikh Jarrah 

Last Monday, a 13-year-old boy stabbed a police officer at the checkpoint, and since then the residents of the camp have been subjected to collective punishment: hourly delays for cars leaving for Jerusalem, stripping children and boys of their outer clothing in full view at the checkpoint, beating students, violent raids and increased distribution of reports. 

This week the residents of the camp were the first to take hold actions of civil riot actions, and carried with them  the residents of the other neighbourhoods. When we arrived, we saw billows of smoke beyond the separation fence. The only people who passed by on foot said that there was a trade strike, blockages with garbage and stones on the main road. The police throw tear gas at gatherings of children and young people. Because of the blockades, Kamal could not act as our driver today. 

We drove up to the area of the car check  on the Israeli side. Completely closed. Also, from Anata according to the report. There are few who pass on foot. Only a herd of sheep grazed the grass on the side of the checkpoint. We left and a security guard came to check who we are - I don't know him. We left before he came back with reinforcements. 

We went up to the French hill and saw that there was no police presence on the road at the entrance to Isawiya, only a police car parked in the parking lot above it, ready for action. Few cars were heading towards Jerusalem. Some workers who were sitting at the gas station and did not go to work today said that there are internal blockades in Isawiya and the security forces are already inside. 

Sheikh Jarrah is not blocked. Natanya wanted to show me Ben Gvir's old office, but I tell her that we should now look for his office in Beer Sheva and maybe in Rahat. 

· Two days later, Kamal, our driver, told us that the blockages and the terrible dirt were cleaned by the residents and shop owners the next day, but the deliberate delays at the checkpoint continue..