Qalandiya
Second Friday of Ramadan
Each year, on Ramadan Fridays, the occupation authorities announce ““as if”” rules:
“As if” the restrictions have been eased, “as if” their approach is more humane, “as if” they’re more flexible, “as if” there’s freedom of worship.
This year they removed their masks.
On the second Friday of Ramadan, the day after President Shimon Peres gave an enthusiastic speech, his empty words including the following – “We’re not a people which conquers” – the true face of the occupation was exposed at Qalandiya, its shame publicly exposed.
But the public space belonged to them, the armed bullies.
They invaded and groped and rummaged through belongings and handbags, photographed whoever approached
and whoever stood on the side, fell upon people, insulted them, shoved a journalist who’d set up a camera tripod to document and report on the empty crossing.
Few came to the checkpoint entrance and few passed by the soldiers.
Ramadan Fridays under Israeli occupation are a seismograph of Palestinian morale.
Stubbornly standing before the armed soldiers, those who left home at dawn even though they knew they didn’t meet the criteria,
the many who tried and were turned back and tried again and were turned back again and stood proudly, defiantly, were a symbol of steadfastness and protest on every Ramadan Friday in prior years.
This year the protestors and the defiant ones were absent.
Only one young woman faced the soldiers, stubborn and proud.
There was great sadness, echoing the silent cry of those who weren’t there.
Like a deep fissure, like a broken spirit.
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
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