‘Atara, Qalandiya, Tue 18.12.12, Afternoon
Translating: Ruth Fleishman
At Qalandiya the writing is on the wall
The checkpoint is preparing for an Intifada
In the past weeks the checkpoint which is meant to serve as a barrier between Palestinian territory and "Greater Jerusalem", has been turning into a fortified site protected by layers.
Parts of walls and concrete obstacle keep being brought to its external side and placed one next to the other in erect lines that create protective external walls for the protection of the inner walls that protect the checkpoint which "protects" the safety of the country from the Palestinian teenagers who are coming to destroy it.
And the thousands of people who have to walk through the checkpoint every day by vehicle or foot, have only on entrance left and it is only becoming more narrow.
Atara/Bir Zeit checkpoint:
The area surrounding the checkpoint was strewn with weaponry casings: grenades and rifle bullets, some of the usual kind and while others were "special" (?), this indicated of the violent events that occurred there recently.
The three reserve soldiers got out of the complex and came towards us called for back-up and four additional soldiers hurried to join.
The seven attacked us with speech and actions.
They were most upset when we defined the Palestinian territories as "occupied territories": "it is a liberated territory!" they said with deep self conviction. They were also very frightened of the camera, they kept bringing up "those lefties who published on their Facebook the picture of the heroic soldier who shot the terrorist in Hebron and they (those lefties) say that she must be killed". They also talked about the video clips in which soldiers are seen to be running away from stone throwers at the village Kadum: "The Arabs throw stones because they are paid to do so…", and with violent shoves they obstructed the attempts to take a photo of the torn flag waving from the top of the pillbox: "This is a military zone, you can't take a photo of military property…"
On the side of the road leading to the checkpoint, a Palestinian placed boxes of fruits and vegetables, he was strenuously trying to make a living and sell to the passersby.
And as the sun sets and darkness and cold are all around, the man lights pieces of wood for illumination and warmth. Almost every day (the peddler said) the soldiers come and order him to put the fire out.
'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 FleishmanMay-13-2025Qalandiya: Back-to-back procedure for transferring patients
-
