‘Atara, Qalandiya, Sun 17.4.11, Afternoon
A new decree had been issued on January 2011: it prohibits the employment of Palestinians with family union permits in Israel.
Where is the full book of decrees and who holds it?- Who is the mastermind that comes up with them?
Qalandiya checkpoint:
A choir roared at us in a mixture of Arabic, English and Hebrew as we dared approach the fence that separates the parking lot from the checkpoint. The voices of the security guards backed that of the solider in the tower, they waved their weapons at us in effort to make it clearer, making sure that we wouldn't see them or their actions: "Go back… go back… Ruh Lawara… Asur La'amod Po… Lo Laga'at Bagader…." They silenced only after someone yelled: "whore!"
We had noticed for the first time a women employee of the privet security guards agency.
Tens of people were cramped together in and outside the checkpoint, despite the fact that three lanes were open and the rush hour hadn't yet begun. From the slow pace in which the soldiers worked it was evident that they were "taking their time". The voices from the loud speakers that were heard inside the checkpoint were uttered in an incomprehensible language.
After standing in line for 50 minutes, during which no one entered the inspection area for some time, the people in front of us started running towards a nearby lane and we followed them: "that one is broken", we were told. After just 15 minutes of standing in the cramped and dense line of agitated people, they were bitter but accepted the verdict, after only sixty five minutes (!), we reached the other side of the checkpoint- the side of Jerusalem.
"Do you pass here every day?", Martin asked the person standing next to him in horror- "Twice a day", the person replied.
Atara/Bir Zait checkpoint:
With the magic words of the army captains this checkpoint had been removed over two years ago, however it is still alive and kicking, it exists, it's manned and armed and harassing, it appears that it even shoots from time to time. The bullet casings scattered on the ground were evidence of this, as well as the stun grenades and tear gas grenades that were stored inside a box that said: "Alfa Appliances" (=appliances for riot control).
The officer sitting at the window of the post tried to stop us: "You must nnot be here… you can't park here…. Get in the car and drive on!", once this did work he implemented the fear strategy: "It's very dangerous for you, i won't be responsible for your safety if anything happens…"
'Atara
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'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.
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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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