Qalandiya
A hard morning, the lines collapsed three times, the humanitarian gate closed too early; yet the pressure ended relatively early.
05.15. Near the parking lot on the Israeli side, as well as at the Israeli-side entrance to the checkpoint, were groups praying. Inside the checkpoint we found lines extending beyond the shed. The beigel seller was already present, and the kiosk was open. All checking stations were open.
Since they have moved the cages slightly leftward, the entrance there is the closest to the soldier in the aquarium, who operates the turnstiles. It is there that the fence begins a little inwards, so here the sleeve is open at the beginning. When things are ‘under control’ this enables women to fit in easily into the line. But it can also be a ’source of chaos,’ because when the line suddenly advances quickly, people start shoving and finally the line collapses and people come crowding around this spot. Today the lines collapsed three times during our watch!
The first collapse happened at 5.30. Luckily the D.C.O. officer arrived early today, and before 6 o’clock opened the humanitarian gate. On the other hand, she unfortunately disappeared at 6.35 – and after that the gate was not opened, although the lines again collapsed (making it difficult for women to enter). Soon after 6, a policeman and guards arrived. A man asked the policeman to open the humanitarian gate as he was in a great rush to get to work. Of course the policeman refused, but called to others in the crowd Let him through. He is rushing to work.” Needless to say, this didn’t help, but the policeman turned to the man, saying “You see, I did tell them…”
In spite of everything, the lines did get shorter relatively early. At about 7 o’clock we joined, and passed through within 15 minutes. When we were already inside the checking station we heard the policeman calling to the people in the cages, saying that the older persons without permits had to wait till 8 o’clock. Also in the checking stations they were refused entry, although there was no longer pressure.
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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