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Qalandiya
Observers: Maya L., Ronny P., two Swedish guests, Ayala S. (translator)
5:45: Arriving late, there were many people around. The line advanced slowly and after a short while there was an uproar, pushing and whistling, all as a result of frustration. The passage of some 2000 persons at the CP during the span of 4-9 AM is agitating and difficult – even on the days when passage takes no longer than 20 minutes.
We found an answer to the reason that crossing through the CP's is a humiliating and frightening experience: we met a man from the Nablus area who works in Ashdod. He has a valid permit and a month ago he received a new magnetic card. Despite all this he was told he would not be allowed to cross through! He was directed "to the matak at 8:00" and the response to his inquiry was similar. A further inquiry was responded with our telephone number! The true cause may be a problem with his fingerprints or a problem with the military authorities but a proper reply was lacking.
There was shouting at the the Humanitarian gate since some labourers under 60 attempted to cross through there and the girl-soldier in charge was forced to call for help in order to settle matters.The person who shouted at the labourers spoke nicely to us and expressed his regrets at the slow and difficult line.
We overheard a disturbing encounter between our young girl-soldier and a respectable school principal: she complained that his occupation in his work permit was listed as a "waqf employee" and not "teacher" as in his education-certificate, and he explained that he couldn't really change this.
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-27-2025Qalandiya: A beggar woman
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