Qalandiya
05.15. Three lines extended deep into the (still blocked) parking-lot. The soldier in the aquarium opened the turnstiles quite frequently, but the lines did not seem to get any shorter as new workers arrived all the time.
06.10. A policeman arrived, but as yet no sign of the D.C.O. officer. A large group had formed in front of the humanitarian gate by the time the latter arrived five minutes later. He dealt courteously with the people, though strict about letting only those with the right permits through. In at least one case he seemed to phone for instructions in a ‘borderline’ case and we were happy to see that applicant being admitted.
In the early stages women joined the regular line, but at 6.23 the lines suddenly collapsed, and there was the usual chaos. It took about half-an-hour for orderly lines to re-form. The lack of benches was particularly badly felt today, as older folk in these circumstances wait out the chaos by sitting there. We went outside and noticed that a number of men were squatting on the pavement there – at least the weather was pleasant at that hour.
The D.C.O. officer continued opening the humanitarian gate until 7.50, when he let in at last those without permits who are let in at 8 o’clock. He then left. By then the lines in the shed were short, and we joined one. Yet, even in these conditions and at this late hour, it took us 40 minutes to go through.
While outside we checked for any progress in the building – but saw only the piles of building material that have been there for weeks. No sign of the urgently needed enlarging (and improving!) of facilities – particularly keenly felt today, Sunday, when traffic seems to be at a peak.
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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