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There was a big crows at 6.45 and by 7.30 all the people went through.
Lil (Jaba)
Very busy. We were greeted by the commander with "please,move away etc." and we didn't take no for an answer and had an intersting discussion about democracy. He feels that the area of the checkpoint is his personal responsibility and if an incident develops then he feels it would be hard to protect us. Since there are signs warning the Israelis not to enter the area if they chose to do so, it's their peoblem, but the area of the checkpoint is his responsibility. We showed him our papers about our right to be there and to photoraph and he agreed. We could definitely understand – not accept – his reasoning and that's what we told him (while standing all the while in the area of the checkpoint), as they say in Arabic: "Hek ildynia".
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Qalandiya, Mon 2.2.09, Morning
Observers: Judy O., Ruth R, Ronny P (reporting); Chava B (visitor)
6.45 We arrived at Qalandiya and two of us continued to Lil checkpoint.
Qalandiya
There was a big crows at 6.45 and by 7.30 all the people went through.
The humanitarian gate was closed. When a woman with a little kid arrived we called the DCO representative and learned that he cannot be in the area of the gates if mot accompanied and protected by the police . But at 7.30 he didn't say how often this happens there is an "orientation " meeting so he cannot assist the needy. Next time we shall look into this "tadrich" (instruction) meeting issue.
Lil (Jaba)
Very busy. We were greeted by the commander with "please,move away etc." and we didn't take no for an answer and had an intersting discussion about democracy. He feels that the area of the checkpoint is his personal responsibility and if an incident develops then he feels it would be hard to protect us. Since there are signs warning the Israelis not to enter the area if they chose to do so, it's their peoblem, but the area of the checkpoint is his responsibility. We showed him our papers about our right to be there and to photoraph and he agreed. We could definitely understand – not accept – his reasoning and that's what we told him (while standing all the while in the area of the checkpoint), as they say in Arabic: "Hek ildynia".
The end of our shift was our search for the new future settlement :Shaar La Mizrah" below Isawiyyah and French Hill, but couldn't find it. It's probably the beginning of E1 settlement. We took the flyer advertising the project to Chagit from Peace Now.
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 FleishmanOct-27-2026Qalandiya. Closure – Climbing over the fence
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