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Qalandiya, Sun 2.9.12, Morning
Observers: Leora Shamir, Annelien Kisch (reporting)
It is now clear for which purpose the metal gateway-scaffolding and the two small “sheds” have been erected at the side the terminal just a few meters before the “border”-fence: a sign says: “for vehicles for the Palestinian Authority” and on the doors “entrance only for inspectors”. We find a pair of discarded number-plates on our path and wonder if that is the way these plates should be handled.
04:00 The turnstiles open punctual on time. There is a separate gate being opened for those women that are present at the start, but it is closed afterwards. A Palestinian seems to be responsible for taking care of opening this gate before he starts his job in Israel. There are 2 “Ecumenicals” this morning and we will cooperate like we do mostly: they will give a note to a Palestinian with the time of entrance which we will gather at his exit. There seem less laborers waiting and things run rather smoothly. There is less pressure and no one seems to be in the usual hurry.
04:15 We go to the side where the laborers exit. There is a regular stream of people coming out of the terminal (around 35 per min). We count 8 lanes open. From where we are standing it looks to us the staff-member at the last booth is laughing and chatting friendly with the Palestinians that pass him. The atmosphere is better, no tension, more smiles.(the routine of the occupation….) Our impression of the smooth proceedings is confirmed: three different timings show that it takes no more than a quarter of an hour for a person to pass the different “hurdles” in the terminal (04:15 o’clock till 04:28; 04:31 – 04:40; 04:32-04:47). We try to find out why this morning there are so much less people. The most likely suggestion seems to be that there is much less agricultural work. The laborers are (eagerly, I am sure!) waiting for the season of fruit-picking and to renew their jobs.
On the way out we meet A. S. G. who askes us to say “thank you” to TAMI, who helped him to get a new permit (tasrich) after more than a month not being able to work in Israel.
Outside there is a very large crowd, 3-4 rows deep, of laborers praying. We’ve never seen that many before. Looks like the Palestinian population is becoming more religious, just like the Jewish population.
06:00 We leave.
Qalandiya Checkpoint / Atarot Pass (Jerusalem)
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Click here to watch a video from Qalandiya checkpoint up to mid 2019 Three kilometers south of Ramallah, in the heart of Palestinian population. Integrates into "Jerusalem Envelope" as part of Wall that separates between northern suburbs that were annexed to Jerusalem in 1967: Kafr Aqab, Semiramis and Qalandiya, and the villages of Ar-Ram and Bir Nabala, also north of Jerusalem, and the city itself. Some residents of Kafr Aqab, Semiramis and Qalandiya have Jerusalem ID cards. A terminal operated by Israel Police has functioned since early 2006. As of August 2006, northbound pedestrians are not checked. Southbound Palestinians must carry Jerusalem IDs; holders of Palestinian Authority IDs cannot pass without special permits. Vehicular traffic from Ramallah to other West Bank areas runs to the north of Qalandiya. In February 2019, the new facility of the checkpoint was inaugurated aiming to make it like a "border crossing". The bars and barbed wire fences were replaced with walls of perforated metal panels. The check is now performed at multiple stations for face recognition and the transfer of an e-card. The rate of passage has improved and its density has generally decreased, but lack of manpower and malfunctions cause periods of stress. The development and paving of the roads has not yet been completed, the traffic of cars and pedestrians is dangerous, and t the entire vicinity of the checkpoint is filthy. In 2020 a huge pedestrian bridge was built over the vehicle crossing with severe mobility restrictions (steep stairs, long and winding route). The pedestrian access from public transport to the checkpoint from the north (Ramallah direction) is unclear, and there have been cases of people, especially people with disabilities, who accidentally reached the vehicle crossing and were shot by the soldiers at the checkpoint. In the summer of 2021, work began on a new, sunken entrance road from Qalandiya that will lead directly to Road 443 towards Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. At the same time, the runways of the old Atarot airport were demolished and infrastructure was prepared for a large bus terminal. (updated October 2021)
Tamar FleishmanMay-31-2026Qalandiya. Human remains or clothing remains
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