Qalandiya
Another hard morning at Qalandiya.
05.20. On arrival on the Israeli side, we meet acquaintances who complain about the bad situation. Although they came early (they arrived at 4.20!!), it took them an hour to pass the checkpoint.
As we got near the checkpoint, we could hear already the noise – and understood that our friends had in fact been lucky. The queues already collapsed and there was now a pile of bags people moved through the fence at the side, to wait for them when they will ultimately get through the turnstiles. At least they can prevent their belongings, if not themselves, being crushed…
The shed Is humming. Older folk, women and others who do not want to, or cannot push, fill the (few) benches and the whole shed. Many already wait at the humanitarian gate. Everyone complain that this has been the situation all week
Soon after 6 o’clock, a soldier arrives to relieve the one in the aquarium, accompanied by a policeman. At 6.15 came a guard, followed by a D.C.O. officer. It took them 2-3 batches to pass all those waiting at the humanitarian gate. The checking was polite but firm: a man on crutches was not allowed through. The policeman also ‘took charge’ of the regular turnstiles and told the soldier when to open them. At least they let in a large number of people each time – allowing long lines to form at the checking stations themselves.
We bought tea at the kiosk that has now moved inside the shed, as shelter from rain.
At 6.40 there were once again queues, with a few young men maintaining order. At about 7, we joined a line and passed through in less than 30 minutes. While we were waiting in line, the humanitarian gate was closed, and the D.C.O. officer and guard departed.
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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