‘Anata-Shu’afat
17:15 Shuafat refugee camp checkpoint
In the square outside the camp stand Palestinian public transportation "transits" and there is plenty of movement but no traffic jams, and only a few older boys sit and wait (boys of 16 and above are not allowed to cross in the pupils' buses). Garbage everywhere. The parking lot for buses has been renovated, and now there are a few separate points of access (sorts of bus-stops), with curbs, so that pupils can embark without risk. We attract much surprised attention: "You're Jewish?" seventh-graders ask in Arabic. It seems their only contact with Jews is via security forces. They tell us of shooting from the pillbox, and much "fauda". While we are there, the buses intended for the children are stuck in traffic at the entrance to the camp, together with a "Red Crescent" ambulance. This is due mostly to people trying to overtake in the exit lane from the camp, thereby blocking the entrance.
The traffic jam from the camp to the checkpoint is enormous. Drivers honk in frustration, but the cars move very slowly. Approximately 100 meters from the checkpoint there is a red traffic flight, and from here until the checkpoint the area is "sterile". Cars cross one by one to the inspection point (the commander says this was done to prevent the running-over of soldiers at the checkpoint).
Jamil Sandoka stops for a minute to tell us that the situation is really bad both in the morning and the afternoon, when leaving for or returning to Jerusalem. Yesterday, a meeting was held with municipal representatives, border police, and the regular police, who promised to improve the traffic arrangements. "But you can see that nothing has changed" he says. We can only join him in hoping that this is only because of the time required between the decision and the issuing of orders…
The pedestrian checkpoint is totally blocked. People tell of two-hour lines, from time to time, every day. Only one checking point is operative, and dozens of people — men, women (also with babies), and boys who cannot cross in the pupils' buses — anxious people, late for work, school, appointments; all of them possessing blue Jerusalem-resident ID's. From time to time shouts are heard from the sound system. Crossing at the single checking point is hopelessly slow. When we cross after three quarters of an hour, we find two soldiers on duty — one busy with his phone, the other checking documents with a conspicuous lack of urgency. Youths stand alongside the entrance to the empty checking point shake the turnstile aimlessly — one can imagine a violent confrontation developing. A fair number of them give up, don't cross for school, and return to the camp. Another recipe for violence.
Strangely, the second checking point has not been activated since its installation. There is a magnometer, no x-ray machine, and the commander complains that there is no manpower (which is odd because there are around 8 military policemen, border policemen, including reserves, and guards, none of them exactly busy…).
We call the headquarters of the Jerusalem Envelope, who promise to call and check; the humanitarian centre, who send us back to the Envelope. The tempo of crossing picks up a little, and from our second conversation with headquarters we are directed to the officer on duty who now wakes up. K. promises to speed up matters, and it seems that he succeeds. The line starts to move more quickly, but there are still dozens waiting. We call the woman in charge of centralizing activity (Mabrook!) and she asks for a report a.s.a.p. to inform all concerned: our new checkpoint committee, Hanna, Betselem, Human Rights Society.
Checkpoint Shu'afat camp / Anata-Shu'afat (Jerusalem)
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The Shu’afat checkpoint is located in the northern part of East Jerusalem at the exit from the village of Anata and the Shu’afat refugee camp, which are located in the area annexed to Jerusalem in 1967. The refugee camp borders the Shu’afat neighborhood to the west, Pisgat Ze’ev to the north, the French Hill neighborhood to the south and the planned expansion of Ma’aleh Adumim to E-1 in the east. It was established in 1966 for 1948 refugees from the West Bank and was populated after the Six Day War by persons who had been expelled from the Jewish Quarter. Today its population comprises some 25,000 people holding blue ID cards and some 15,000 people with Palestinian ID cards. The camp lacks adequate infrastructure and services, and suffers from poverty, neglect and overcrowding. All its buildings are connected to the public electricity and water infrastructure, but not all are connected to the sewer system. The camp’s services are provided by UNRWA, except for those such as health clinics and transportation of pupils to schools in Jerusalem. In 2005, the Israeli High Court of Justice rejected a suit by the residents requesting that the route of the separation fence be drawn such that the camp would remain on the Israeli side, but conditioned its approval of the route on the establishment of a convenient and rapid crossing facility for the inhabitants of the neighborhood, most of whom are residents of Jerusalem.
A temporary checkpoint operated there until December, 2011. It was extremely congested during rush hours, and dangerous for pedestrians (especially children) because of inadequate safety provisions. The new checkpoint was inaugurated south of the old one, for public and private transportation and for pedestrians, intended solely for the residents of the camp – holders of blue ID cards, and those with Palestinian ID cards who possess appropriate permits. There are five vehicle inspection stations at the checkpoint, and two for pedestrians (one of which is currently closed) where scanners have been installed but are not yet operating. According to the army, representatives of government agencies will also be present to provide services to residents of the neighbourhood. The pedestrian lanes are very long, located far from the small parking lots, and accessible through only a single revolving gate.
Anat TuegJan-25-2026Anata: A new outpost has been built south of the junction
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