Qalandiya
A morning that began as a nightmare, ending in quiet.
05.15. Already approaching the checkpoint on foot from the Israel side, we were surprised at how few people were coming out. But when we entered, we could see why: Inside there was total chaos and immediately people came up to us to complain.
It turned out that, in spite of the late hour, only one of the five checking stations had opened. We immediately phoned, and were promised that the others would open. Time passed but the red X (“closed”) sign still showed over the other four stations. Many people were sitting on benches, resting against walls, or impatiently wandering about. At the entrance to the sleeves themselves there was total pandemonium, with people pushing and climbing on one another, so as to reach the turnstiles as soon as they should open. Of course, this happened rarely as there was only one checking station functioning inside.
At the humanitarian gate there was already quite a crowd as people realized they didn’t have a chance of squeezing into the regular queue.
There was enormous shouting, and the single soldier managing the turnstile seemed to be in despair and trying to find out what was happening. On our second phone call we were assured that they were dealing with the problem, but still no progress. Then suddenly we heard two loud shots which seemed to come from the car checkpoint. Many people went out to the parking lot (empty because of Ramadan closure) close to the car checkpoint to see, but no one could learn what had happened. Traffic seemed to be moving at its usual pace. So the people returned, but to the same chaos.
Only at 5.35, the remaining 4 stations opened. At 5.45 a policeman arrived and now many more people entered at each opening of the turnstile, though the pressure was still great. Gradually, though, queues formed. Women arriving tried to fit in, but soon gave up, because of the crush among the men.
Shortly after 6, the policewoman arrived, followed by the DCO officer. Together they opened the humanitarian gate and allowed in the ‘permitted’ ones. Guards also arrived. Now all flowed quickly. By 6.15, lines were formed – long at first, but quickly becoming shorter. By 6.30 there was hardly any queue extending beyond the sleeves. Anyone arriving now could get the impression that this was a calm morning at Qalandiya.
It is particularly irritating because it shows so clearly that, if the soldiers took the trouble to arrive on time, they could save these workers so much time and aggravation, so that they could reach work on time and relatively relaxed, not as if they had already been through a battle, particularly while fasting.
We noticed that the temporary shopping stalls in the hut and at the kiosk had disappeared. We do not know if the owners had been ordered to close them.
At 6.37 we joined a queue and within 10 minutes were outside.
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 FleishmanApr-12-2026Qalandiya. Abdallah at his fruit stand
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