‘Atara, Qalandiya, Sun 11.9.11, Afternoon
Translating: Ruth Fleishman
Qalandiya checkpoint:
They weren't there a week ago. Where were the cement bricks and the relics of old blockages brought from and why were they transferred and placed at the entrance to the checkpoint from the southern side? Some were placed in straight lines as though it was a lineup, and the others were scattered arbitrarily
.
"They are trying to create one passage for people and another for vehicles", a Palestinian friend tried to explain to us and to himself the rationality behind it all. However, the facts don't convey an attempt to improve the accessibility of the site, they do disclose more and more narrowing of lanes and more malicious blockages that make the passage harder for people and vehicles. The blockage free site is getting smaller, it is narrowing down. It would seem that after some more narrowing down, only the square would remain which in itself is also a blockage.
A swift artist had left his mark on the cement blocks, an inscription and 
drawings in green, red and black (the colors of the Palestinian flag): "about three days ago during the night, perhaps it was one AM, an Arab man living in Allemagne (Germany) came with paint and brushes and did it", said a friend.
Atara/Bir Zeit checkpoint:
"We are here because they throw stone at us…" said an angry soldier, one of the three who came down from the tower to meet us, and tried in vain to send us away or to at least restrict us.
This statement raises the question of the chicken and the egg. It is true that from time to time stones are thrown at the pillbox, it is also true that in return the soldier use riot control equipment, including firing their rifles and throwing gas grenades at those who throw the stones. But the stones do not throw themselves, and those who throw them don't regard it as an entertaining activity.
After all, had there not been a checkpoint at that place and had there not been any armed soldiers at the checkpoint, the stones would not have been thrown. But then, in line with this soldier's train of thought, he and his friends wouldn't be needed there any more…
Chad Gadya?
'Atara
See all reports for this place-
'Atara Checkpoint
Situated at the northern entrance to Ramallah from Route 465, called also Bir Zeit Checkpoint. Nowadays only remains of what used to be a busy checkpoint remain, a pillbox and concrete blocks.
-
Qalandiya Checkpoint / Atarot Pass (Jerusalem)
See all reports for this place-
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
-
