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Qalandiya, Thu 7.5.09, Morning
Observers: Netanya, G. Mili M. (reporting)
6.45 Kalandiya
On our way we observed about 10 cars in Atarot.
There were about 250 people in front of the external turnstiles. All entrances were open, the "humanitarian" gate was closed and it seems as though it did not open at all to-day, since all women and children waited at the regular lines. We called the Moked and were promised that it will be taken care of, the soldier and the glass booth (who was responsive) also called. It took another additional two calls and 25 minutes for the policeman to come in a very leisurely pace, chatting along on the phone and with the security people who came with him. What is the hurry? There was a sick baby carried in his mother's arms. That was the only time that this gate opened, but admittedly the regular lines moved quite rapidly, as the crowd was dwindling. In fact the pace of the regular lines was reasonable all morning, as we observed and also heard form two UNRWA men who were there since 5.30 in the morning.
UNRWA is sampling the CPs, since there is a new instructions that they can pass only through the CP. They also found out that 39% the passengers in Kalandiya have the status of refugees and are under their jurisdiction, so they are going to come from time to time to watch over the situation. .
A woman who works regularly at the Frendh Hill and has a permit, that its renewal time is June 1st, came to ask for help. Her permit was taken yesterday at the CP at 5.30 in the afternoon. The Officer Kabalan in his usual helpful attitude went to inquire about it and told her that it will take some time before they can clear what happened with the permit. While she was waiting, she told us that the female soldiers detained her yesterday at the CP, told her to get into a room and each in her turn told her when she will be allowed to get out: In August, in November, in December, after half an hour they let her out and took her permit. We left her waiting for Kabalan's inquires, but Netnaya gave her phone number.
On our way we observed about 10 cars in Atarot.
There were about 250 people in front of the external turnstiles. All entrances were open, the "humanitarian" gate was closed and it seems as though it did not open at all to-day, since all women and children waited at the regular lines. We called the Moked and were promised that it will be taken care of, the soldier and the glass booth (who was responsive) also called. It took another additional two calls and 25 minutes for the policeman to come in a very leisurely pace, chatting along on the phone and with the security people who came with him. What is the hurry? There was a sick baby carried in his mother's arms. That was the only time that this gate opened, but admittedly the regular lines moved quite rapidly, as the crowd was dwindling. In fact the pace of the regular lines was reasonable all morning, as we observed and also heard form two UNRWA men who were there since 5.30 in the morning.
UNRWA is sampling the CPs, since there is a new instructions that they can pass only through the CP. They also found out that 39% the passengers in Kalandiya have the status of refugees and are under their jurisdiction, so they are going to come from time to time to watch over the situation. .
A woman who works regularly at the Frendh Hill and has a permit, that its renewal time is June 1st, came to ask for help. Her permit was taken yesterday at the CP at 5.30 in the afternoon. The Officer Kabalan in his usual helpful attitude went to inquire about it and told her that it will take some time before they can clear what happened with the permit. While she was waiting, she told us that the female soldiers detained her yesterday at the CP, told her to get into a room and each in her turn told her when she will be allowed to get out: In August, in November, in December, after half an hour they let her out and took her permit. We left her waiting for Kabalan's inquires, but Netnaya gave her phone number.
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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