Qalandiya
There was already a line, though still short, when we arrived at 5 AM. But the soldier in the aquarium let many people through each time he opened the revolving gate, trying to prevent long lines forming.
All five inspection booths were open even though the new signs (which Marsha mentioned in her report two days ago) showed only one (No. 1) was open and the others were closed. An example of spending money on the most unnecessary thing at this checkpoint, which doesn’t even operate the way it’s intended.
By 05:20 the lines were already fairly long (past the covered area), through three cages, and it remained that way until about 07:00.
The DCL soldier opened the humanitarian gate at 06:05, and again whenever a few people had gathered.
A man approached us and asked for Sylvia’s phone number – referring to her by name, which again demonstrates she’s the most famous Israeli woman in the territories – we gave him a card with all the information. Maybe the page from which the cards are printed should be sent to the network again, because it’s a very convenient way to provide and receive the desired information.
During our shift one of the Machsom Watch tours for students in pre-military service preparatory programs arrived, led by Anat, Neta A. and Bassam (who accompanies our tours in the Jerusalem region). The young people were able to speak with us, with Palestinians waiting on line, and with the soldier and policeman on duty. I assume Anat will prepare a report on the visit.
We left at 07:15 when the three cages were already empty.
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 FleishmanFeb-27-2026Qalandiya: On the way to prayer
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