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Qalandiya, יום ד’ 24.9.08, אחה”צ
Observers: Ruti, Hannah (reporting)
Ramadan
16:25 We parked south of the checkpoint.
16:30 Only one passageway from the enclosure is open. About 60 people are
standing within. Lanes 4 and 5 are open. Many people are standing within the
sleeves, moving from line to line. We called the humanitarian hotline twice so
that our complaint will be registered. A woman soldier on the loudspeaker:
"This is the last time about how you pass through the turnstiles.
standing within. Lanes 4 and 5 are open. Many people are standing within the
sleeves, moving from line to line. We called the humanitarian hotline twice so
that our complaint will be registered. A woman soldier on the loudspeaker:
"This is the last time about how you pass through the turnstiles.
16:40 The traffic circle. Traffic is moving from every possible direction
— even above the circle on a diagonal, people, cars, special attitude to
foreigners and those with yellow license plates cut in to the line. Horns
blasting. Go, stop, go, stop. The line of cars is longer than usual in the
lane that leads from Jerusalem in a northernly direction. Two lanes are open in
the southern direction.
— even above the circle on a diagonal, people, cars, special attitude to
foreigners and those with yellow license plates cut in to the line. Horns
blasting. Go, stop, go, stop. The line of cars is longer than usual in the
lane that leads from Jerusalem in a northernly direction. Two lanes are open in
the southern direction.
16:50 In the waiting area. About 50 people are in the only enclosed area
and in front of it. A woman with an infant in her arms, two young children and
sacks. She requested to pass through the humanitarian gate and was refused.
The woman was apparently fasting. We tried to contact Amir from the DCL. He
said that "it will pass more quickly". We tried the IDF spokesperson and were
directed to the spokesperson for public affairs. We brought them up to date.
The checkpoint was under the command of the border police. The spokesperson
said that the IDF is not responsible.
and in front of it. A woman with an infant in her arms, two young children and
sacks. She requested to pass through the humanitarian gate and was refused.
The woman was apparently fasting. We tried to contact Amir from the DCL. He
said that "it will pass more quickly". We tried the IDF spokesperson and were
directed to the spokesperson for public affairs. We brought them up to date.
The checkpoint was under the command of the border police. The spokesperson
said that the IDF is not responsible.
17:30 Two passages from the enclosure are open. 17:45 Three sleeves are
open, the line is getting shorter.
open, the line is getting shorter.
From 16:30 until 17:15, it took people about an hour to cross the Qalandiya
checkpoint. If someone from any section was responsible for this checkpoint
(blue police, border police, IDF and all those in between) had been interested
to make things easier, they would have opened another sleeve, and placed one or
two soldiers there. We are talking about minimal personnel.
checkpoint. If someone from any section was responsible for this checkpoint
(blue police, border police, IDF and all those in between) had been interested
to make things easier, they would have opened another sleeve, and placed one or
two soldiers there. We are talking about minimal personnel.
There was a lot of traffice of people with bags and suitcases, perhaps
because of the end of Ramadan and the beginning of the feat. We left with a
very bad feeling of impotence. There was no one with whom to speak. There is
definitely a conscious decision to collectively punish people and to behave
harshly with this population. Is there anyone among those responsible who still
remembers a value like compassion? like humanity?
because of the end of Ramadan and the beginning of the feat. We left with a
very bad feeling of impotence. There was no one with whom to speak. There is
definitely a conscious decision to collectively punish people and to behave
harshly with this population. Is there anyone among those responsible who still
remembers a value like compassion? like humanity?
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
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