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Ar-Ram, Qalandiya, Wed 18.2.09, Afternoon
Ruti and Hannah (reporting)
15:50 Ar Ram Today, we were informed that the Ar Ram
checkpoint is closed. There was no checking of vehicles into Ar Ram. There was
checking of those going into Jerusalem. The temporary fence is in the process
of being dismantled, up to the intersection of the stadium intersection. The
people were ruminating "We just need bread for our children". There was a lot
of garbage on the street. The iron fence of Ar Ram was closed. There was only
an exit to the north. Palestinian Ar Ram was closed.
checkpoint is closed. There was no checking of vehicles into Ar Ram. There was
checking of those going into Jerusalem. The temporary fence is in the process
of being dismantled, up to the intersection of the stadium intersection. The
people were ruminating "We just need bread for our children". There was a lot
of garbage on the street. The iron fence of Ar Ram was closed. There was only
an exit to the north. Palestinian Ar Ram was closed.
16:05 Qalandiya From afar, we could see a line at Atarot. In
the plaza of Qalandiya on the Jerusalem side, there was a group of English
youngsters (wearing kipot) being guided by an Israeli who came to Israel in a
program called "Learning about the realities" The guide had heard about
machsomwatch and allowed us to answer the questions of the
youngsters.
the plaza of Qalandiya on the Jerusalem side, there was a group of English
youngsters (wearing kipot) being guided by an Israeli who came to Israel in a
program called "Learning about the realities" The guide had heard about
machsomwatch and allowed us to answer the questions of the
youngsters.
16:25 There was a huge bottleneck around the two traffic
circles — the north and the south. Cars from Atarot, Ar Ram, inspections
without purpose at the checkpoint of vehicles leaving, and a total stoppage of
all lanes in the northern circle. Everything stood still, even the alternative
routes around the circle. Blocked. A driver said "There is no democracy here
— no human rights. You have a heart of stone that drives us to
hell".
circles — the north and the south. Cars from Atarot, Ar Ram, inspections
without purpose at the checkpoint of vehicles leaving, and a total stoppage of
all lanes in the northern circle. Everything stood still, even the alternative
routes around the circle. Blocked. A driver said "There is no democracy here
— no human rights. You have a heart of stone that drives us to
hell".
16:50 The iron gate of the wall to Ar Ram was opened and all
the private vehicles heading to Palestinian Ar Ram from Atarot and Jerusalem
were directed through. Trucks and minibuses went straight ahead. For those
going through Ar Ram, the way is longer. We did not understand the reason for
the congestion. Could it be related to the changes in southern Ar
Ram?
the private vehicles heading to Palestinian Ar Ram from Atarot and Jerusalem
were directed through. Trucks and minibuses went straight ahead. For those
going through Ar Ram, the way is longer. We did not understand the reason for
the congestion. Could it be related to the changes in southern Ar
Ram?
16:35 In the waiting area cage. There was only one sleeve
opened.
opened.
17:55 At least 70 people were in front of the left cage and in
it. A soldier was trying to make order. We called to those responsible to have
them open another sleeve. Within minutes, they announced the opening of a new
lane and people races to the new lane. And — the lane was closed. (Perhaps it
was never even opened). Everyone went back to the old lane. This pattern
repeated itself three times during the time that we were there.
it. A soldier was trying to make order. We called to those responsible to have
them open another sleeve. Within minutes, they announced the opening of a new
lane and people races to the new lane. And — the lane was closed. (Perhaps it
was never even opened). Everyone went back to the old lane. This pattern
repeated itself three times during the time that we were there.
The meanwhile, lane 5 was opened to those not carrying
everything. The problem was that not everyone knew about that and there were
those who went in and were sent back and started waiting all over
again.
everything. The problem was that not everyone knew about that and there were
those who went in and were sent back and started waiting all over
again.
17:20 Started to pass through the cage
17:33Waiting in lane 3. There was a huge line, and again the
same thing happens as above. The total confusion, absence of organization, and
the total absence of concern especially felt today. There was the feeling that
all those responsible for the checkpoint today, from the simplest soldier up to
the very top brass — all of them lost their humanity. People were infuriated.
An older woman broke down in tears. Yes, she is here every day.
same thing happens as above. The total confusion, absence of organization, and
the total absence of concern especially felt today. There was the feeling that
all those responsible for the checkpoint today, from the simplest soldier up to
the very top brass — all of them lost their humanity. People were infuriated.
An older woman broke down in tears. Yes, she is here every day.
18:00 There is still a line in sleeve #3. Now, lanes 2 and 5
are opened. A young woman must take off her boots. "You are ignoring us" says
the woman soldier from behind the closed passageway. The pleas of the young
woman did not help, she removed her boots and appeared in pretty stiped socks on
the freezing and filthy floor. She put the boots through the machine. It got
stuck. Then they went through. The young woman was consumed with anger from
the frustration. The argument at the window continued "until the matter is
solved". The entire line was being punished. The young woman shouted out on
behalf of the violence against whole line, against all this shame. She was
detained in a side room. Policeman P.K. asked her to accompany him. He
promised us that she would be released in a few minutes. We waited a while
longer and left.
are opened. A young woman must take off her boots. "You are ignoring us" says
the woman soldier from behind the closed passageway. The pleas of the young
woman did not help, she removed her boots and appeared in pretty stiped socks on
the freezing and filthy floor. She put the boots through the machine. It got
stuck. Then they went through. The young woman was consumed with anger from
the frustration. The argument at the window continued "until the matter is
solved". The entire line was being punished. The young woman shouted out on
behalf of the violence against whole line, against all this shame. She was
detained in a side room. Policeman P.K. asked her to accompany him. He
promised us that she would be released in a few minutes. We waited a while
longer and left.
18:30 We went through lane 3 at 18:30.
18:43 A long line of cars heading north, along the Ar Ram
wall. The iron gate between Ar Ram and Qalandiya was closed.
wall. The iron gate between Ar Ram and Qalandiya was closed.
A-Ram
See all reports for this place-
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 FleishmanJun-8-2025Qalandiya: Emptiness in public space
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