Unnecessary and Frightening Inspections of Special Education Transportation
Since the start of the school year on September 1, Border Police officers and armed security personnel stationed at the Shuafat refugee camp checkpoint have been boarding special education buses taking students from the East Jerusalem neighborhoods of Shuafat, Ras Khamis, Ras Shehadeh, and Dahiyat al-Salam to school. The officers and security personnel shout at the children in Hebrew (which many do not understand well, if at all) and demand that they present their original birth certificates. Most children would find this experience frightening and confusing, but these students in particular are enrolled in special education because they have disabilities, including difficulty with speaking (or who cannot speak at all) and comprehension and communication issues. Many of the children, when confronted with armed soldiers or guards, burst into tears or begin screaming.
On September 6, 2026, ACRI appealed to the commanders of the Jerusalem District Police and the Jerusalem Envelope Border Police, demanding an immediate end to the inspections of special education students. In the appeal, ACRI Attorney Tal Hassin argued that the guards’ behavior is degrading and should not be directed at any child, let alone children who are especially vulnerable.
Not only are these inspections frightening and degrading, they are also unnecessary. Special education transportation already undergoes a security check before crossing the checkpoint by coordinators on behalf of the Jerusalem Municipality, who ensure that only students entitled to transportation services are on board. Moreover, in response to a previous appeal concerning the transportation services, ACRI was informed that there is a directive intended to allow transportation for students and people with disabilities to pass through the checkpoint without delay or inspection. Accordingly, we demanded that the security personnel stationed at the checkpoint be instructed to immediately stop boarding special education transportation.
ACRI’s appeal, September 6, 2026 (Heb)
