Qalandiya
Qalandiya
04:15-08:00: In the stretch between the checkpoint and the Atarot industrial zone there were already many pedestrians. No factory in the region begins its first shift before 06:00. Till then they rest in front of the closed doors – that’s the life of the Palestinians who have to pass by the checkpoints!
At the checkpoint itself there is a long but “quiet” queue. The soldier in the acquarium opens the turnstiles at an acceptable pace. It seems that the message that it was forbidden to jump over the slalom has penetrated as everybody runs within the turnstiles. It is difficult to watch this!
A Palestinian who has been severely burned at his work site about a year ago and whom we managed to help in his distress, comes to greet us. We were glad to see that his wound had healed and that he had returned to his job.
There is a lot of talk about a massive confiscation of permits.
The members of Shovrim Shtika arrived around 05:30. For some it was their first visit at the checkpoint. We explained and described – it is good to talk with comrades who know the situation and understand the background.
We were glad that the soldiers didn’t make any difficulties at the checkpoint except for the policeman who warned me “not to cause trouble, not to photograph nor to talk inside the ‘sleeves’.
What I whispered under my nose cannot be expressed in writing!!!
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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