Qalandiya
15:15: Only one lane was in use at the vehicle barrier, in addition to the public-vehicle lane. The line wasn't too long and the mess near the circle that we encountered on our way back still hadn't formed. The pedestrian barrier had only three open checking posts and within a few minutes the lines built up and reached the parking lot. Additional soldiers and a policeman that joined in didn't relieve the situation. A few women by-passed the line into the pens without objection.
5:30:We phoned the Matak, requesting that the two additional checking posts be opened up in order to ease the situation. Ten minutes later check-posts 4 and 5 were operating too.
6:00: The people standing in line became restless – pushing and shouting resulted. Women were still allowed to by-pass the line, as the 'humanitarian" post had still not been opened. Many people were waiting at the 'humanitarian" post, including a familiar person, in the past accompanying his children. This time he wasalso escorting a blind person, due at Rambam Hospital at 9 and worried that he'd be late. He advanced the blind person and his wife through the line, until the "humanitarian" line had been opened and they could go through. And now he returned to the "normal" line to accompany his kids through check-post 5.
6:25:We went through the parking area and noted that the lines were still very long, extending into the parking area. There was a considerable line at the "humanitarian" post. The security forces were there: 3 policemen, 2 security men, 3 soldiers. Most of the time they were sitting around, drinking coffee and smoking. The two policewomen were immersed in their smartphones and the policeman was the one to instruct the soldier in the "aquarium" when to operate the turnstile. It was very frustrating to observe the scene, while standing in the endless lines. No doubt, had all five posts been opened earlier, the situation would have been much better.
6:45: The lines contracted into the shed. The "humanitarian" line was reopened and the lines nearly disappeared.
6:50: We left.
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 FleishmanMay-13-2025Qalandiya: Back-to-back procedure for transferring patients
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