Qalandiya
5:00: When we arrived at the CP, it was nearly empty. Gradually, people began coming. The line proceeded at a rapid pace and many people crossed over.
A pregnant woman arrived and Meira – a professional midwife – noticed that she was in pain. As the 'humanitarian' gate had not been opened yet we asked the workmen on line to give her precedence, to which they gladly agreed.
Our modest request that the narrow turnstile be opened – was denied.
We met two teachers, one from the Waqf and the other from UNRWA. Regrettably, their permit did not state the fact that they were teachers. No use presenting their worker's certificate, which clearly states their profession (Teachers!). Apparently, this is an intentional policy and there's no chance that their profession will be reverted from Waqf or UNRWA employee to teacher.We also met a tradesman who unluckily had been allowed entry into Israel from 7:00 and not from 5:00. Unfortunately, he had planned to enter at 5:00, purchase goods, and return and open his village shop at around 9:00.
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 FleishmanMay-13-2025Qalandiya: Back-to-back procedure for transferring patients
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