Qalandiya - a swift passage for all
Qalandia Recovers – Almost
Last week we wrote that unnecessary procedures were already spoiling the easy passage through the new checkpoint. This morning everything returned to normal: a swift passage for all. In one or two cases, the recognition technology was not working at two of the electronic turnstiles by the checking station we chose. But when the soldiers inside the adjoining glassed-in booth dealt with the issue, the problem was quickly solved.
Only when we exited the building did we discover a problem with the vehicle checkpoint: It was closed to traffic in both directions. A solution was found for cars and trucks traveling north in the direction of Ramallah by opening a gate in the wall surrounding a-Ram to enable vehicles to join up to Road 60 and from there to Kafr Aqeb and Ramallah or directly northward on 60. But those heading south into East Jerusalem were simply stuck. We could not see the size of the traffic jam on the other side of the checkpoint from where we stood, south of it. But we stood there for about half an hour and could imagine only imagine (with no one to talk to) the mess on the other side.
Afterward we wrote to Hanna and asked her to try and find out the reason for this “closure.” She replied that a water pipe had burst while work was being done on upgrading the road – somewhere: We could see no hint of this from our vantage or along the roads we left on, and we don’t know how long it continued. Frustrating!
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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