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Qalandiya
Observers: Chana S., Ronit D. (reporting); Translation: Ayala S.
We arrived at the CP at around 5:15, after having parked on the Israeli side. All five checking posts were operating and there were no lines at this stage,with people passing through the turnstile at the edge of the pens.But at 5:25 two lines had already formed, later even three. The girl soldier in the "aquarium" opened only one turnstile and the other two were off. People roared their complaints – to no avail. We twice called the headquarters to plead to have the three turnstiles operating: "the commander's decision" was the reply. After some time the second turnstile was operating. A soldier came to say that the third turnstile was reserved for those who were rejected passage.We told him they could be returned through the "humanitarian" gate.
A couple – a man and a young girl were on their way to hospital. We explained to them that the humanitarian passage would be opened only at 6:00 and advised they join the line at the entrance to the pens, which they did.
At 5:50 the lines broke up and disorder reigned. Turnstile 3 was on and off intermittently. Only later,when it was finally reopened for good, had the line settled. At 6:00 people were already waiting at the humanitarian gate. Two policemen were there, including M.who began opening the line. Policeman M. announced that the elderly, lacking permits, would be able to get through only at 8:00. A couple complained that they had an appointment at the hospital at 8:00 – how would they make it on time.
At 6:10 a Matak officer arrived and he and a policeman took turns operating the the humanitarian gate.They tried to control those pushing on line. The lines were orderly but very long, flowing into the parking area. At 6:35 Counter 4 was suddenly closed off. The lines were long until 7:00. Only by 7:10 the lines became shorter. Those due to wait until 8:00 were not enabled to join the lines any earlier.
We joined the lines and crossed through within quarter of an hour. A person behind us on line had a metal crutch and the soldier would not let him through as he had no permit. "I'm 55 and do not need a permit" he said. "No", she said, "your birthday is next month!" and she refused to let him through.
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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