Qalandiya, Mon 30.1.12, Morning
05:45 we arrive at the C.P. which is very noisy even though it is not that full. The usual, young guys pushing relentlessly, the humanitarian gate is closed and we feel helpless, since this is almost inevitably the case at this time of morning. The older people and those who refuse to expose themselves to this aggressive handling , wait on the benches. It is still dark and there is ONE neon light only that still works. Nobody, apparently thinks it might be worth putting some fresh lights in. The only soldier in the cell decides to educate the Palestinians and demands that they be QUIET, uskut, he shouts at them and does not open the cages.
We call the DCO twice and finally after 6 a.m. Saffa , the DCO officer arrives and the situation improves immediately.
The humanitarian gate opens, the soldier in the cell is replaced , the line becomes civilized and by 07:30 all have passed.
Some workers told us they were there since 04:30. If it is a known fact that they start work at 7 a.m. and usually still have a way to go from Qalandiya, why this torturous ritual every morning , of not opening all 5 security check points and making it possible to pass earlier and in a humane manner?
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 FleishmanJul-21-2026Qalandiya. Conversation in the shadow of the wall
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