‘Anata-Shu’afat, Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal)
6:30 Olive Terminal
It's heart-wrenching every week to encounter those "fortunate" enough to have crossed the threshold of 55 years of age, on their way to Jerusalem. But what one hand loosens, the other tightens: this group may cross only after 8 a.m. The chief aim of this group is to supplant the income for their families — since the P.A. pension fund does not entitle them to a respectable pension at this age. They try, again and again, and we recognize some of them from previous shifts.
A group of impatient youths gathers on the Palestinian side of the checkpoint. They are on their way to Haifa, their permits are for 9 a.m. but they are already here, eager to set off for their day of fun in the forbidden land. They ask for our help. But most of the group have not yet arrived, and the buses are not here. We tell them who to call at the relevant hour, and wish them fun on this special day.
The lines in the three corridors are not long today, and crossing is relatively fast. In addition to workers and a few pupils, there is a growing number of women and children loaded with lunch-baskets, bags of food and beach equipment. Summer is here, and we wish them too a pleasant day on their break from occupation routines.
Shuafat checkpoint
The infrastructure on the transportation area is not yet complete — perhaps in a couple of weeks? Who knows?
The water problem has not been solved, and the heavy heat increases the gravity of the situation. The matter has reached the high court, but deliberations have not yet finished. Perhaps the learned judges, despite their understanding that water is a crucial need, do not feel a great urgency inside their air-conditioned halls, to order the authorities to solve this problem. Let us not forget that Shuafat is mostly within the jurisdiction of the Jerusalem Municipality.
7:30 A-Tur
Halleluja! The roadblock near the elementary school for boys has been opened; which is to say that 3 concrete blocks have been moved to the side of the road, and remain there as a warning. But the road is open to vehicles, and we can assume that no one in this tormented neighbourhood has forgotten that they live under occupation.
On a hot day like today the security forces tend to stay inside their air-conditioned vehicles. Only a trio are positioned outside the boys' High School, later joined by another trio. There were no unusual events.
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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Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal)
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A large checkpoint/crossing to the area of a-Tur, Abu Dis and the Old City; only for pedestrians. Located on Jerusalem’s municipal boundary.
One of the major crossings in Jerusalem’s central sector. It is located on the separation fence between the northern portion of the al-Ezariya neighborhood and the neighborhood of a-Tur and the rest of East Jerusalem. It is manned by Border Police soldiers and private security companies and operates 24 hours a day. Palestinians are forbidden to go through, other than permanent residents of East Jerusalem (holders of blue ID cards) and holders of work and commercial permits who are allowed through only on foot.
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