Qalandiya
5.30 – 7.00
We thought that the days of the Messiah had arrived when we entered Qalandiya. The shed was completely empty. Inside at the windows were many people and the lines in the cage were not overflowing. We have no explanation nor did the security guard who said that maybe because of Ramadan people had not gone to work. Also the soldiers were working efficiently, the lines streamed through and the crowds at the windows thinned out quickly.
The toilets are still locked and an elderly lady was in a bad way but there was nothing we could do about it. The men evidently had no problem finding other “accomodation”.
One can only hope that when this grand renovation is finally completed the army will remember that they are dealing with human beings who have human needs. Happy is he who can believe.
The sun at this time of the day is as strange as the day was. Or is it the moon?
The humanitarian gate was only opened at 6.30 for a short time but basically there was no real need for it as the lines in the cage were short and passed through quickly.
The security guard was pleasant and even came out into the shed to explain to an elderly man why he could not pass. This is the only time we have seen any guard or soldier in the shed. He did let him go through but afterwards we saw the man had been sent back.
We do not understand the 4 entrances we saw here…If they are for Ramadan in some way or if they are intended for the renovated terminal.
We both agreed that it was a very weird day. We left at 7.00
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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