‘Anata-Shu’afat, Ras Abu Sbitan (Olive Terminal), Tue 13.11.12, Morning
Those coming to the checkpoint from Jerusalem have difficulty finding a space in the small parking lot. The construction of government and municipal offices for the residents of the camp caught in the status of residents of Jerusalem beyond the wall (photo 1) is proceeding slowly in the open area outside of the checkpoint. 
Hundreds of pupils crowd into the parking lot where the buses financed by the municipality leave for schools in Jerusalem (Beit Hanina, Shu’afat, special education institutions throughout the city). These buses go through a special lane and their passengers aren’t individually inspected. They depend on the supervisors (photo 2).
It’s pretty disorganized, because there are no railings on the sidewalks; the children gather on the road, which is dangerous, but there are six supervisors in charge and the atmosphere is good. The children are very friendly, happy at our attention. One more thing – there are almost no shelters when it rains, and some of the existing shelters are broken
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We hear of the plan to create a garbage dump at Ras Shehada – between the Shu’afat camp and Issawiyya and A-Zaim – and demolish the homes of Bedouin who’ve lived there for decades. Some residents of Shu’afat own land there, and there’s also a small outpost of Ateret Hacohanim. The plan has been submitted for objections. Cf. Nir Hason’s article in Ha’aretz.
Heavy traffic goes through the four lanes of the vehicle checkpoint in an exemplary manner.
08:40 Olive Terminal
We arrived from Azariyya; we could see much construction on one side (two mosques 
with twin minarets and other large buildings), filth and neglect on the other. To our surprise and joy we meet a Palestinian worker at the checkpoint who’s responsible for cleaning the bathrooms and the DCO shed (photo 3). Unbelievable! – our complaints, particularly Chana’s, apparently have finally borne fruit: the bathrooms serving the many people arriving at the checkpoint from afar are now in reasonable condition and fairly clean. We praise the checkpoint commander for the change; he says the Civil Administration allocated special funds for cleaning and he hopes that this time the facilities won’t be vandalized. They all stress that the worker is a Palestinian who’s not permitted to cross to the Israeli side.
Otherwise the checkpoint is almost completely deserted. We heard that many new work permits had been issued but the laborers cross earlier
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 TuegNov-13-2012Anata: new traffic circle at the exit 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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