‘Anata-Shu’afat
Friday of Ramadan, 2.6.2017, Anata checkpoint
We arrived shortly after 9 a.m. This checkpoint serves inhabitants of Anata and the refugee camp Shuafat. The camp is mostly one of the areas annexed to Jerusalem and its inhabitants hold blue identity cards. That means that not only inhabitants of the territories, but also those of “united” Jerusalem, are obliged to pass the checkpoints every day to work, shopping, prayer.
When we arrived there did not seem to be any pressure. There were many Border Police, police and soldiers. Two young Border Police approached us. They had not heard of Machsomwatch and couldn’t understand what we were doing there. They asked if we needed help, but asked us not to come closer. Later a more senior Border Policeman came to us. He apparently knew who we were (maybe from the previous policemen), introduced himself, shook hands and asked politely that we move a little back and not photograph. According to him this was in our own protection, so that we shouldn’t be harmed “if an incident would develop.”
We watched the vehicle checkpoint.3-4 lanes are open. The one closest to us and to the checkpoint building, is where buses and minibuses of public transport pass. Each bus stops, the passengers alight, are checked, and re-enter. Meanwhile, Border Police enter the bus and check it. There is a man with a shirt saying “usher” (sadran) and another man in a red shirt (Perhaps it was Jamil Sanduka, but we could not identify him from a distance.) They were in contact with the Border Police, telling people where to go, etc.
Some of the buses advanced shortly after the check, and then waited at the side. apparently this was to wait for the return of identity cards that had been taken for checking. Sometimes people descended from the bus. It is unclear why. We also could not understand why some buses stop, while others proceed straight after initial checking. It seemed that line 207 (from Shuafat) passed without delay, while line 254(from Anata) stopped. But perhaps this was just coincidence. Sometimes people went with Border Police to the booth to check their documents, unclear why, and it was hard to see if many were turned back. The atmosphere appeared calm and there did not seem to be any conflicts.
At this checkpoint usually in each lane only one vehicle approaches the checking station. The next one has to wait at a distance, and to approach only after the first one has passed. So from our viewpoint we could not tell how long the queue was. But there did not seem to be pressure. At times there were minutes between cars, or even cars that passed through the public transport lines because, presumably, there were no buses in line. Now and again there was a motorcycle, bicycle – and, once, a man with a supermarket trolley.
Also in the pedestrian passage there was very light traffic. We asked some who came through about conditions inside the checking station and they said there was no pressure. One complained about the precise checking, although he has a blue identity card. There were no “incidents” and all was calm. One time there was a car that stood aside after the checking station, apparently the driver was told to wait. He waited a while and then began to move. Immediately the barrier ahead of him closed. He was obliged to reverse. One man got out of the car and only then was the car allowed to continue on its way.
At 12 o’clock, before we left, we went on foot to the entrance to the camp and saw that, indeed, there were no queues. The square in front of the checkpoint was clear of vehicles.
Ramadan karim!
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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