Qalandiya
Qalandiya
04:00 –A long line of about 200 people had already gathered but only one station was open. About two minutes after a phone call from us, all five stations open and the time it takes to pass through shortens very quickly. A young man and a young woman sat in the “aquarium” and it seemed that they are enjoying each other’s company.
05:30 – The guests arrived. They photographed a great deal and listened attentively. Among the guests were two people who had visited Israel in the past and who were familiar with the checkpoints. At about 05:30, the vulgar policeman reported for work and refused to answer our questions. “I am not obligated to respond to you.” In my naïveté, I thought that policemen had to respond to citizens – but perhaps I dreamed that in citizenship classes. . .
06:20 – The female soldier from the District Command Office (DCO) appeared late, as usual. Except for her contemptible and rude approach, it is only possible to say on her behalf, that at least she knows Arabic. She stands in front of the people, hands in her pockets and her entire body language is scornful and arrogant. We look her straight in the eyes: “What’s new?” The line continues to grow. The pace is reasonable. Take into consideration that it is now Ramadan and before this time, people were not deserving of shorter procedures. An older woman requested help. She was on her way to the hospital with a heavy cast on her hand. The woman soldier from the DCO said, “Only at 08:00; it doesn’t concern me.” The same response was given to other women. Shortly after that, the woman soldier disappeared and the “Humanitarian Gate” wasn’t opened. When we were explaining about the “Humanitarian” Gate to the visitors, a small “storm” or dispute broke out. We were asked what was “humanitarian” at the checkpoint and we didn’t succeed (obviously) in giving an answer. . .
One of those who passed through and returned, approached us, a young man from East Jerusalem, and with the help of translation, he told his story. More and more join the line and from time to time sharp yelling pierces the air, which speeds up the opening of the checkpoint.
07:30 – We left for breakfast and the Ambassador Hotel in Jerusalem and the discussion continued until 09:00 when the guests left for a tour of the Seamline Zone with Pitzi.
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 FleishmanFeb-27-2026Qalandiya: On the way to prayer
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