Qalandiya: The month of Ramadan is upon us and people are asking whether religious observance would be possible
As we count one-hundred and fifty days since the catastrophe that befell us, and due to which we wreak death and starvation upon our neighbors, and as we count five days until the beginning of the Ramadan month, I came to Qalandiya to meet friend and acquaintances, ask how they are and wish them my good Ramadan wishes.
On the way there, I happened upon the ending of a back-to-back procedure.
The human cargo transferred from the Jerusalem ambulance to the West Bank ambulance was an elderly woman ill with cancer who had undergone treatment at the Mount Scopus Hospital, and because of the rules of occupation, on her way home to Nablus, was fated to suffer delays, inspections and inconsiderate shakeups.
In previous years, during the pre-Ramadan weeks, there were practical works in the area around the checkpoint to ready it for the tens of thousands of people who would make their way to the Friday prayers at Al Aqsa Mosque. This year one saw no tell-telling signs but for an elongated shop on the eastern side of the checkpoint – at a place that during Ramadan Fridays was intended for male passage and the owners of the shop were forced by the army to evacuate and move elsewhere. At the place where it used to stand, only a white, mute wall remains.
All my acquaintances asked whether I know what this year’s Ramadan rules are (for they don’t), and whether religious observance would be possible.
In our talk about Israeli leadership, one of the speakers summarized the situation: “Practically speaking, the Prime Minister is Ben Gvir”. The listeners nodded in agreement and no one protested.
We also spoke about the home of Mohammad Manasara, resident of the refugee camp, who murdered two persons near the Eli gas station five days ago, and was killed by the Humus eatery owner. The Israeli media stated that his home was supposed to be demolished. “Yes, they have already come and designated it, but have not yet demolished it”, my acquaintances said.
And I repeat my question about the justice system that rules the demolition of the homes of Palestinian murderers/terrorists and does not do so about Jewish murderers/terrorists, as it refused Hussein Abu Khdeir’s request to demolish the home of the Jewish terrorist who planned and carried out the murder of Abu Khdeir’s son.
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 FleishmanJun-25-2025Qalandia: West Bank man injured in both legs
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