Jaba (Lil), Qalandiya, Sun 26.12.10, Afternoon
Translated:Ruth Fleishman.
"Tens of activists demonstrated at Qalandiya checkpoint against the construction of the wall, six had been detained" a laconic new flash taken from Haaretz.
On the following day this article was published:
http://www.iba.org.il/bet/?entity=700026&type=1
While we were our way we noticed many military vehicles driving on the lane opposite to us- heading back from Qalandiya.
On our arrival the gate to the new ward was closed and some men guarded by a security man from "Modi'in Ezrachi", were repairing the damages caused when the demonstrators shook the fence (seen in the photo).
We were told that a large demonstration had taken place in front of the checkpoint just before noon. There were Palestinian and international activists, all of them wore yellow t-shirts that said: Freedom. In return, the checkpoint and the gates leading to it were closed. Soldiers appeared from all sides and surrounded the demonstrators who fought back. Some of the demonstrators fell down, some were hurt, a Palestinian medical crew was sent for and treated the injured. Nine demonstrators were arrested and taken to the checkpoint. News crews from Al-Jazira and El-Manar covered this event.
In view of the reports in the Israeli media, it would be best to read the item in the following link:
http://hebrew.wafa.ps/index.php?action=detail&id=42301
And see at the attackers, their victims and the threat that these people pose to the country, presented in the pictures on this link:
http://web.alquds.com/docs/pdf-docs/2010/12/27/page33.pdf
(Both links had been provided by Vivi Zuri)
Here is a link to a video of demonstration on Sunday:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCpB54gcvUc
The road to the DCO:
We joined a group of about twenty people who were waiting with enraged patience in front of the closed gates.
A professor from Abu-Dis University who is a lecture on public health, stated his opinion: "The people here are the ones obeying the rules of occupation, they are the submissive part of the people. You won't find the terrorists in this line. It would have been appropriate if at least here, they would treat human beings as if they were human beings, with a little respect".
After waiting with them for half an hour, knowing that the official closing time was approaching, we started making calls to see if one of the soldiers hidden inside would agree to open the gate. Once we managed that, we too crossed the four turnstiles on the 20 meter path to the DCO, were we saw a sign saying: "If at times you forced to wait, it's because the person before you is getting all the attention he deserves. When you turn arrives we will be honored to give you the same treatment". (photo taken by Nurit)
The six people who arrived just a couple of minutes after us weren't lucky. The soldier in the post refused to let them pass and claimed: "The DCO is closed. Everyone go home!"- It was 15:45 and all the DCO personnel were still in their posts.
We were shamed, and not proud, of the help we were able to offer as Jewish and Israeli women who got the DCO to answer the phone and co-operate (shameful), while ignoring its target audience, the people they were supposed to treat and their problems.
-A police vehicle was parked on the Israeli side of the checkpoint, seven illegal work immigrants came out- two women and five men who were caught at Ramot without work permits.
At least they didn't lose their days earnings.
Jaba checkpoint:
An officer who was a first lieutenant and the checkpoint commander, hurried towards us and said that after the encounter we had with the soldiers a couple of weeks ago, (documented in this report: http://machsomwatch.org/reports/checkpoints/28/11/2010/afternoon/16624), inquiries were made regarding are rights and all the soldiers in the unit were informed that they couldn't prevent us from taking their photo or that of the checkpoint. Anyone who doesn't want their picture taken should just cover their faces.
Jaba' (Lil)
See all reports for this place-
Jaba' (Lil) In fact, the Jaba checkpoint is east of the Qalandiya checkpoint. Its declared purpose is the prevention of Israeli citizens from entering Area A. A road checkpoint for vehicles, located on Road 65, borders the southern fence of Kfar Jaba, about three kilometers east of the Qalandiya checkpoint, on the road leading to the settlement of Adam on Road 60. Archaeological excavations within the village found the remains of a cloth house from the First Temple period. The events that led to the construction of the checkpoint are precisely here: on the day of the abduction of Gilad Shalit and before the outbreak of the Second Lebanon War, a 17-year-old man from one of the settlements was abducted by a Palestinian cell. His body was found several days later at the entrances to Ramallah. A military investigation revealed that his abductors had taken him along this route. The checkpoint was set up to prevent future kidnappings and to warn settlers from traveling to Ramallah and entering Area A (which is forbidden for Israelis). The checkpoint that operates around the clock. Usually only vehicles traveling in the direction of Ramallah are inspected. (November 2016): Every morning, when the settlers en masse travel to Jerusalem on Route 60 and every afternoon they return from Jerusalem on Route 60, the army initiates a traffic jam at the entrance to the Jaba checkpoint and stops the movement of Palestinians traveling toward Route 60. (February 2020): In the last two years the checkpoint has not always been manned. Sometimes the soldiers come and just stand, sometimes they come and stop and check those who enter the village, sometimes they patrol the alleys of the village, sometimes they fire stun grenades and gas and sometimes they invade houses and stop young people, say those passing through the Hazma checkpoint. (Updated February 2020)
-
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 FleishmanFeb-27-2026Qalandiya: On the way to prayer
-