Qalandiya - closure on elections day
Something about closure hypnotizes the eye.
What is there is precisely what isn’t there, and who is there is precisely who isn’t – and both are the rulers’ wet dream.
If a guest from another planet were to arrive at Qalandiya on a day of closure, s/he would say it was organized, orderly and wonderfully functional.
Such was the enthusiastic Dutch tourist who crossed the checkpoint, undistracted by anything.
The only distraction for the contented armed personnel was… I, not obeying the woman-
soldier’s illegal demands.
“So you get a cop!” she yelled, as if punishing a toddler who didn’t finish his food.
She locked my way forward and stuck me in front of her behind her armored glass window.
The few Palestinians outside flashed solidarity smiles at me.
The policeman who came, not really understanding why he was summoned, said that yes, I had the right to know her name and lodge a complaint against her. When he asked her for her name she did not answer, and when he insisted – she ran off.
The policeman contacted the warroom and was told that her name was Linoy Levy.
“You can do whatever you please with this information” he said.
I do please and I will do.
The policeman who accompanied me to the exit asked me how I voted, I told and asked him took, and we were mutually content to find out we had voted for the same party…
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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