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Qalandiya
Observers: Virginia S., Ina F. (reporting); Translator: Ayala S.
5:10: Although all five checking posts were functioning, the lines nearly extended to as far as the parking lot. The turnstiles at the edge of the pens were often opened but they let through only few people at a time.The lines often reached the parking lots.
6:05: The Matak soldier arrived in order to service the 'humanitarian' gate. The lines built-up rapidly. It seems that multitudes of people reach Qalandiya CP and the situation was similar throughout this week's mornings. The Palestinians working in 'Atarot' knew nothing about a plan to transport them in buses through the vehicle lane in order to ease the pressure on the pedestrian passage.
6:50: The discipline in the lines was disrupted by the younger people who were shouting and fighting between themselves, causing the others to withdraw in awe of being hurt. New lines began forming at around 7.
new policeman arrived (identified by name-tag :A.Y.) and started checking the permits of men who had already passed through the Humanitarian gate and were on their way to the checking posts. Also, there was a temporary difficulty with the turnstile near the humanitarian post but it was quickly repaired by the soldiers.
7:30: We were leaving but there still were lines reaching the parking lot. (Most of the laborers working at Atarot are due at work at 7:00!). The humanitarian line was operating and there were still many people on line there. Apparently, more permits are being issued but there has been no appropriate consideration of the prospected crowding at Qalandiya.
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-12-2026Qalandiya. Abdallah at his fruit stand
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