Qalandiya - Quiet, and spectacular view of sunrise
05.15. On arrival we hardly found a parking spot. A closure was announced for today and tomorrow because of Purim. Nevertheless we decided to go to the checkpoint because we have learned in the past that closure is never hermetic. At least the workers of the nearby Atarot industrial area go through as usual, and apparently not just them.
On the way from the parking lot to the checkpoint people greet us. Though fewer people than usual, there is a steady stream coming out of the checkpoint. It is already dawn and not too cold. There is a lot of building going on at the traffic islands so passage is quite chaotic. When we reach the Palestinian side, all is calm, with a spectacular sunrise.
Our friend Abu Ramzi stands outside with his beigel cart. He says he is usually banished. He asks why – after all, he is there only for a short while, not disturbing anyone.[In fact, he is providing a useful service.] From his point of view, the move to the new building is no improvement as he has to stand outside – difficult both in rain and (as it will be) in hot sunshine. But he says that people are satisfied and he, too, can come later. The falafel stall is nowhere to be seen.
We went to the kiosk at the end of the pavement. Muhammad put zatar in ur tea today, recommending it for clearing the throat mornings. He is not sure where their kiosk will be during the preparations towards Ramadan, when the entrance is prepared from this direction. (During Ramadan itself the kiosk is closed during the day.)
We found two notices – one from the Ministry of the Interior, something to do with payments of membership fees to the Histadrut[?] The other notice announces vacancies for workers in hospitals in Tel Aviv.
In spite of notices asking people to keep the place clean, there are no rubbish bins. We entered the abandoned old shed and found that the toilets there have at last been opened – the same old dark and smelly holes…
After a few more glimpses of the sunrise and chats with acquaintances and others – all happy about the changes – and we left at 6 o’clock.
Inside, the turnstiles at the end of the slalom are open. We waited just a moment before having our bags checked and there was no one behind us. Later the electronic stations were not working, yet passage quick and took less than five minutes.
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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