Ar-Ram, Qalandiya, Wed 17.9.08, Morning
It was very crowded in the morning, but people were passed through quickly and efficiently.
6:20 Qalandiya
Surprise. At such an early hour, it was not crowded — only about 120 people in the turnstiles at any given time and in spite of this, the crossing time was not less than 1/2 hour. In the humanitarian line, it was also not crowded — 20-30 people waiting but the gate opened every five minutes and the line emptied. It appeared that there was crowding in the security stations and therefore, the turnstiles were not opened for 15 minutes.
6:40 Qalandiya.
I asked the policeman who was responsible today how it happened that today there were not lines of people bursting out as usual and his answer was "when it's crowded, you complain and when it is quiet, you ask what happened. It was very crowded this morning but we passed everyone quickly and efficiently"
7:00 Qalandiya
In the last minutes, 150 people passed in the regular line and 100 remained in the short line and 40 in the humanitarian line while 100 passed from that line. The vehicular crossing was very crowded and cars were held up from all directions. Crossing time was about 20 minutes.
Qalandiya epilogue
9:20 We got a telephone call from Zully, a member of machsomwatch who had a private meeting at the checkpoint. The Palestinians reported to her that there was a woman soldier checking by the name of L. who was screaming at the Palestinians in Hebrew, who was angry that they did not understand her "What isn't clear? I told you to put it in the machine" and was joking around with a soldier at her side while neglecting her work while the line grew longer. In order to verify what they said, she crossed the inspection area again — the passageway of L. and indeed, the soldier continued to scream in Hebrew at the people and to hold up the line because of misunderstandings that developed from situations wherein the person in charge shouts on those who are expected to follow instructions in a language which they do not understand.
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
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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 FleishmanApr-12-2026Qalandiya. Abdallah at his fruit stand
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