Checkpoints Deepen Fragmentation Near East Jerusalem, Reshaping Palestinian Mobility

In the areas surrounding East Jerusalem, the geography of daily life is undergoing a stark transformation. What were once connected towns and villages—Al-Sawahra al-Sharqiya, Abu Dis, and Al-Eizariya—are now fragmented into isolated enclaves. This evolution is being driven by a dense network of military checkpoints, barriers, and gates that tightly regulate movement and access. Key crossings such as the checkpoint near the “Container” to the south of Al-Eizariya have become instruments of contro