Qalandiya, Sun 23.12.12, Morning
Translator: Charles K.
05:20 Why is the line so long and so slow this morning? It’s a harsh sight on a cold morning. Everything seems to go slowly. Pandemonium began when the shifts changed and the new soldier didn’t open the three revolving gates simultaneously, which always angered everyone – the laborers as well as us.
06:20 The DCO representative arrived with the policeman. They come to the waiting room filled with people. The first thing they do is check that – God forbid – no one on the humanitarian line is younger than 60. Those aged 58 are sent to the regular line. That seems to be the DCO’s main job, preventing 58-year-olds from sneaking into the humanitarian line.
A man wishing to cross on the humanitarian line was sent to the regular line because his excuse wasn’t accepted. He said he’d badly injured his back three months ago and will have difficulty passing through the narrow revolving gate on the regular line. He’d even brought documents signed by a physician. It was clear to us that he suffered from back pains, just as it’s clear every Palestinian is suspected of cheating and lying, and their only wish at the checkpoint is to cross through the humanitarian lane rather than the one intended for laborers!
The ecumenicals said it took 50 minutes to get from the parking lot to the checkpoint’s exit.
We tried to speak to the policeman to ask that all all three revolving gates open at the same time, but weren’t able to. Finally, after the congestion eased, the policeman spoke with us.
The atmosphere is Kafkaesque. We tell a soldier that the revolving gate isn’t opening; he’s standing alongside us, looking at that same revolving gate and saying that it is opening! The same thing happens when we time how long it takes to go through, when both we and the soldier have watches that show the same time but he insists on “his” timing. Another frustrating experience when we ask them to help with something that they have the ability to carry out. After all, we’re not asking the soldier to end the occupation…
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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