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Qalandiya
Observers: Roni H., Vivi S.
First Friday of Ramadan)
The Israeli camp seemed prepared for the invasion of Muslims into the el-Aqsa mosque. The intention seems to be that of exhibiting the enlightened conquerer, sensitive to the basics of religious ritual. This shift of attitude is probably due to international criticism and the bad reputation Israel has gained.
All women were allowed through, men over 40 and kids to 12 years of age. A great difference was evident in the fact that in the parking lots many toilet booths had been installed to replace means of crowd-dispersing and armed military personnel that had filled the parking lots in the past!
The commitment that the population would have direct bus access from their towns to the mosque did not materialize. Thus huge crowds needed to pass through the CP. Along the women's side the crowding was not so bad, compared to that on the men's side, where inspection was very thorough. No exceptions were made and often shameful scenes included the separation of kids from parents, and people pleading with the unheeding soldiers and policemen.The meticulous filtering is continued in the old City, where the military prohibits sneaking into the market or elsewhere.
In general, the crowds gloomily hurried back to the transportation means.
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 FleishmanJul-21-2026Qalandiya. Conversation in the shadow of the wall
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