Qalandiya, Tue 12.4.11, Morning
Another bad morning at Qalandiya:
It was quite cold and windy and long lines were leading into all three sleeves and the Humanitarian Gate when we arrived at 6:10 a.m. The Humanitarian Gate first opened at 6:30, after we called the Humanitarian Hotline to report on the crowd waiting there. But it then opened on an average of every 10 minutes, allowing everyone waiting at the time through it, until we left at 7:30.
The movement through the three sleeves was particularly slow, and there was considerable frustration and anger among those waiting. All five checking stations were operating. The only explanation for the slow pace ― given by the deputy commander of the DCO, during our phone call to him ― was that a new unit was operating that day (which seems to be the standard reason given on particularly slow days). At two different times, we took phone numbers from men standing at the end of the line to see how long it would take them to get through the checkpoint. It took the first 1 hour and 50 minutes, the second (who started later) 2 hours and 5 minutes. One can appreciate the anger.
We learned that the manager of the Atarot Industrial Zone is holding a meeting with employers this afternoon about obtaining special passes for workers to come through the checkpoint during the closure on Hol Hamoed Pesach. We have his phone number and will follow up with him tomorrow.
Qalandiya Checkpoint / Atarot Pass (Jerusalem)
See all reports for this place-
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
-
