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14.30 – 16.30
Beit Iksa, Givaat Zeev
We were four so we decided to split. The two of us wanted to observe the new CP between Beit Iksa and Bidu, of which we heard from the Taxi drivers waiting for workers at the Ramot CP. The road that winds from the main road Jerusalem – Givaat Zeev and goes to Bidu and the other villages in the enclave (Kubeibe, Katana and the rest all the way to Reut), is blocked near Har Shmuel and the drivers have to take a much longer route through the new CP. This route goes along the border line of Beit Iksa and then by the Bedouin dwellings west of Har Shmuel. The CP that probably is designed to stop and search those who come from the enclave, is superbly built; new roads and two roundabouts. Even new road signs pointing towards a Taxi stop, have been put up on both sides of the CP. The cars entering the enclave have not been inspected and neither were we on our way back.
We also went to the Givaat Zeev CP where the workers from the above villages pass in order to build Givaat Zeev. The checkpoint serves only pedestrians. According to one of the soldiers there, 700 – 800 workers pass every day. The working permits for them are being issued at Beit El and given to their employers. The workers have to go via the underpass road to Bir Naballa and then turn back in order to go through this CP. The soldiers looked bored gathered around us. A completely halucinary sight was that of three donkeys carrying heavy sacks coming from the north towards the CP, probably with olive crops. Their masters opened the gate that was not locked and went through to El Gib, the nearest village to the East. When we asked the soldiers if the farmers are not being bothered, one of them answered: "This is not a settlement and there are no settlers here
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Qalandiya, Mon 2.3.09, Afternoon
Observers: Ilana D. Yael I. (Reporting)
14.30 – 16.30
Beit Iksa, Givaat Zeev
We were four so we decided to split. The two of us wanted to observe the new CP between Beit Iksa and Bidu, of which we heard from the Taxi drivers waiting for workers at the Ramot CP. The road that winds from the main road Jerusalem – Givaat Zeev and goes to Bidu and the other villages in the enclave (Kubeibe, Katana and the rest all the way to Reut), is blocked near Har Shmuel and the drivers have to take a much longer route through the new CP. This route goes along the border line of Beit Iksa and then by the Bedouin dwellings west of Har Shmuel. The CP that probably is designed to stop and search those who come from the enclave, is superbly built; new roads and two roundabouts. Even new road signs pointing towards a Taxi stop, have been put up on both sides of the CP. The cars entering the enclave have not been inspected and neither were we on our way back.
We also went to the Givaat Zeev CP where the workers from the above villages pass in order to build Givaat Zeev. The checkpoint serves only pedestrians. According to one of the soldiers there, 700 – 800 workers pass every day. The working permits for them are being issued at Beit El and given to their employers. The workers have to go via the underpass road to Bir Naballa and then turn back in order to go through this CP. The soldiers looked bored gathered around us. A completely halucinary sight was that of three donkeys carrying heavy sacks coming from the north towards the CP, probably with olive crops. Their masters opened the gate that was not locked and went through to El Gib, the nearest village to the East. When we asked the soldiers if the farmers are not being bothered, one of them answered: "This is not a settlement and there are no settlers here
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 FleishmanApr-12-2026Qalandiya. Abdallah at his fruit stand
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