‘Anata-Shu’afat, Sheikh Saed
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6:20 Sheikh Saed
The construction of the checkpoint seems to be reaching conclusion, but is not yet operative. Checking takes place from a position that seems to be temporary, close to the exit. Few are crossing at this hour and inspection is quick. When several arrive simultaneously the border-policewoman insists they approach "wahad, wahad."
At 6:30 children start arriving and the stream of those crossing increases. But just then the security guard, until now ensconced inside — playing with his colourful hat and looking rather bored — remembers his strong motivation and begins to yell at us. We don't move or respond or approach him. He leaves his position, armed and with threatening body language, and summons another border-policeman, who asks us "politely" (he says) to move away and out of the checkpoint area which is a "military area." We reply quietly that it's not, that it's a civilian installation on whose edge we are permitted to stand. He threatens ("politely"?) to call the police. We don't move. Just then a jeep arrives, another border-policeman disembarks — he doesn't attempt to turn us away, but warns us authoritatively not to move forward. We were not planning to do so.
Meanwhile the stream of people crossing increases with the arrival of more children. The security guard stops them. [Security guards have no authority to perform any kind of checks of civilians — they are employed by a private company and are neither soldiers nor policemen.] People crossing try to intervene, saying they know the children who are all pupils. The guard urges them to move back, even grasping a young man's elbow — who protests assertively. A violent encounter threatens to develop, until one of the border-policemen comes to the guard's assistance, checks the bags of the little ones, but lets them all through without requiring permits. But he also moves the metal barriers to create a narrow passage. One border-policeman, one border-policewoman, and one security guard are now busy shepherding people crossing through a narrow passage between metal barriers. Why? Just because they can!
At the exit from the checkpoint, another border-policeman stands conspicuously wrapped in his prayer-shawl, praying very loudly to his God. Even his mates snigger at the spectacle.
Shuafat checkpoint
The transportation area is very busy, as usual. A long traffic jam has formed from the checkpoint to the roundabout opposite the area.
According to S., the Supreme Court has set a limit of 60 days to find a solution to the water problem in the neighbourhood.
On our way to the checkpoint for vehicles, we and others present our documents to be checked by a female soldier who is eating her breakfast.
At the checkpoint, we encounter pandemonium. Impatient honking, border-policemen and guards milling around, not clear why they are there. Three checking position are active, and one lane is reserved for buses transporting pupils. The checks are mostly competent, but that is not enough to meet the pressure at this hour.
Here too a border-policewoman inquires about our business. She is followed by a border-policeman who is not satisfied with questions and immediately tries to get rid of us. We insist on our right to stay where we chose and he gave up.
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 TuegFeb-05-2015Anata: new traffic circle at the exit junction
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Sheikh Sa'ed
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A checkpoint limited to pedestrians, located on Jerusalem’s municipal boundary.
The checkpoint sits on the separation fence at the entrance to Sheikh Sa’ad, dividing it from its neighbourhood of Jabel Mukkabar. It’s manned by Border Police soldiers and private security companies and operates 24 hours a day. Palestinians are forbidden to go through, other than residents of Jabel Mukkabar or Sheikh Sa'ad who have permits. Both groups are permitted through only on foot. Residents of East Jerusalem who don’t live in Jabel Mukkabar are also allowed to cross to Sheikh Sa’ad, but not in the opposite direction; they must return through the Sawahira ash Sharqiya checkpoint.
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