'Anata-Shu'afat, 'Isawiya (East Jerusalem), Al-Ezariya

Anata, Isawiya, Azariah Wadi Nar .

Anata:  Hundreds of children standing around waiting for transportation.  As they were waiting, they were breathing in the overwhelming fumes of dust from the adjacent lots where construction rubble has replaced the garbage heaps that had been there.  Whereas the garbage stank, the grinding rubble emitted will undoubtedly lead to other health ailments.  Traffic flowed without impediment.

Isawiya:  There was no security present at the exit to French Hill, but apparently many of the residents are parking their cars on the French hill side of the exit so that they will be able to get to the city in case of holdups at the checkpoint.  The same situation exists at the Isawiya exit to the road to Maaleh Adumim.  At the exit to Mount Scopus, there is increased security.  In addition to the concrete blocks which prevented vehicles from exiting, metal barriers were placed making it impossible for motorbikes to get through.  One of these had been moved when we were there, but who knows for how long?

No unusual happenings in Azariah or on the road to Wadi Nar, except that the area becomes more dilapidated week by week.