Qalandiya, Thu 7.10.10, Morning
Qalandiya at 6:25am, The lines for both cars and trucks were backed up and the building was unusually crowded, mainly with men sitting on the benches. We were curious about the passivity of the people sitting around and one person explained to us that since in the past, so many people had been injured while standing in line, they felt it was safer to sit down and wait for the gates to open.
We learned, in addition, that there had been a power outage at 5:00am but unfortunately, the people in line had not been told. To add to the confusion, one x-ray machine was not functioning. People without bags were invited to go to this line.
For the most part, we continue to find the soldiers' behaviour acceptable but one security guard today, was especially rude to a man holding a sick child.
Soldiers are unable to view the situation in the outer area which creates unnecessary hardships, especially with the Humanitarian Lanes. We were finally able to get the attention of one soldier who was thus able to assist in two cases with very sick children.
Anata at 8:15, we noted that the construction was continuing and that for the most part, the traffic was flowing well.
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 FleishmanMay-13-2025Qalandiya: Back-to-back procedure for transferring patients
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