Qalandiya
All of the five checking posts were operating, the lines were not long, and when we arrived at 5:30 they were advancing at a decent pace – until change of guard at 6:00. We then noticed that despite the modest or non-existent lines, the soldier in the "aquarium" was ignoring his duty and was focused on something else – perhaps his mobile phone? We tried to catch his attention but to no avail, until someone on line shouted louder and caused him to wake up and release the turnstiles. Subsequently they opened up more frequently and by 6:30 the lines did not extend beyond the pens. At 6:45 the left-hand turnstile remained open and the people could then pass freely through into the lines. The 'humanitarian' gate opened at 6:15 (by the policeman on duty, although the Matak soldier and the security person were there). While the turnstile remained open, a woman approached us saying that the situation the day before (when we were absent) was terrible – warranting the necessity of our daily presence. At about 7:00 we accompanied our guest through the checkpost. We were standing on line 3 for about 5 minutes and the turnstile was not operating. There were no Palestinians in the checking area. We could see that the post of the person in charge of checking was vacant. I attempted to contact the Matak to inquire – but the moment I took out my mobile phone the turnstile renewed operation. Coincidence perhaps??
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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