Qalandiya
05.30. Three long lines extended to the far end of the (still blocked-to-traffic) car park. 4 of the 5 checking stations were open, though during our watch the fifth one opened. There were very few people standing at the checking stations, though. We found this was caused by the infrequent opening of the turnstiles on the part of the soldier in the aquarium. Either because she was tired at the end of her duty, or because she was too engrossed in her smartphone, she would open the turnstiles only every 10 minutes and, for some reason, would release only one column of people waiting at a time.
06.00. The situation improved when a replacement soldier took over. At 6.09, a D.C.O. officer arrived, accompanied by a guard. Almost immediately he started opening the humanitarian gate. This he did frequently, so that there were never more than 2 or 3 people waiting.
A woman from Jenin came to visit her mother at Hadassah hospital, but as she had no permit was told to wait until 8 o’clock. She was naturally disappointed, but seemingly not resentful.
An older man (not the one who usually approaches us!) complained about not being allowed to pass before 8 o’clock. We have been told that this rule is to speed the passages of younger people who are in a hurry to work (although we are told that at other checkpoints with at least equal pressure, older folk without permits are allowed through earlier). However, this man complained that even when the place was almost empty he was not allowed through merely 5 minutes before 8 o’clock).
By 7.30 the lines were short. We joined one and passed through within a few minutes.
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 FleishmanFeb-27-2026Qalandiya: On the way to prayer
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