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Anata-Shu’afat, Issawiya

Place: Checkpoint Shu'afat camp / Anata-Shu'afat (Jerusalem)
Observers: Rahel W., (reporting) a guest
Dec-14-2015
| Afternoon

 

Anata
:
Traffic flowing without hindrance in both directions.  There is little traffic mid day.  The real problem is in the early morning hours when there are huge backups.
 
Issawiya:  exit to Mt. Scopus.  For whatever reason, a police tape was placed across what was once the roadway for vehicles leaving Issawiya.  Also, additional impediments were placed across the road even though, with the large concrete barriers that have been there for the past two months, there is no possibility of cars getting through.
 
Issawiya: exit to French Hill.  A tent has been erected for the benefit of the soldiers stationed there.  That is in addition to the “butke”.  Traffic continues with just one lane open serving both those entering and leaving.
 
Issawiya:  exit to road leading to Maaleh Adumim.  Here too, there is just one lane available to those leaving and coming.  At the time we passed by, the area was unmanned and there was minimal traffic.
 
When we returned from the Maaleh Adumim area, there was a traffic  backup extending all the way from the checkpoint area through the tunnel from the Mount Scopus area.  Ordinarily, there is no checking of vehicles heading east, but yesterday, (at about 3:20 p.m.) all cars were being checked. 

 

  • Checkpoint Shu'afat camp / Anata-Shu'afat (Jerusalem)

    See all reports for this place

    • 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.

       

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