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‘Anata, Ar-Ram, Qalandiya, Thu 22.5.08, Morning

Observers: Mili M., Chana S. (reporting)
May-22-2008
| Morning
6.20 a.m. Anata – 2 lanes of the usual busy traffic, gradually building up. Checking of cars thorough but efficient.
7.00 a.m. A-Ram – Many schoolchildren had to open bags for checking, but this seemed
to be quite arbitrary, depending on the particular policeman/woman at
the time.
Enormously long line of cars each of which was thoroughly checked at one of two checkpoints
After struggling up the hill we found, as noted above, a deep
ditch in the gap where we usually cross the wall. A local man told us
that this had been dug two days ago, preparatory to closing the wall
altogether. Many individuals were very helpful in helping us find the
way to the large lower gate.
7.30 a.m. Qalandiah —We were amazed to find so few people! The carousels – two were
operating – were open all the time. No one seemed to be able to explain
the phenomenon, because apparently yesterday there had been crowds
while, according to locals, even early this morning, before our
arrival, it was quiet.
At gate 5, we heard a woman being harshly dismissed with a mixed
Arabic-Hebrew "no permit – no passage" and being told "go home," though
she was obviously trying to explain something to the woman soldier.
When we saw that she was holding an application form for a
magnetic pass, we realised that in fact she was needing the DCO. The
soldier told us that this would open only at 9.30, but couldn't explain
why so late.
A young man waiting for the DCO showed us a letter stating that he
was no longer barred for security reasons from getting a permit. He
too, of course was waiting for the DCO to open. He apparently got this
clearance thanks to the efforts of Machsomwatch !
Unfortunately, we could not wait until 9.30 to see if he was already included in the computer.
  • A-Ram

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    • two kilometers south of Qalandiya and 300 metres north of Neve Yaacov Junction, in Dahiyat el-Barid Quarter. Checkpoint has operated since 1991, in a Palestinian area annexed to Jerusalem in 1967. The checkpoint has been inactive since the middle of 2009.

      The wall was built on the road that led to Jerusalem. Since then the situation in the town has deteriorated. Houses are abandoned and half finished, most of the businesses have closed. Severe neglect around the fence and on the streets. Those who could left. Updated January 2024

  • 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.

       

      ענתא: מעגל תנועה חדש בצומת היציאה
      Anat Tueg
      May-22-2008
      Anata: new traffic circle at the exit junction
  • 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)  
      קלנדיה: פירות הקיץ
      Tamar Fleishman
      Apr-16-2025
      Qalandiya: summer fruit
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