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Qalandiya, Tue 16.12.08, Morning
Observers: Julia W., Chana G., Rahel W. (reporting)
We got to Qalandiya (via Atarot)
rather earlier than usual — about 1;30. Initially, there was very
little pedestrian traffic, but it picked up. Two lanes were open the
whole time we were there so passage was quite quick.
rather earlier than usual — about 1;30. Initially, there was very
little pedestrian traffic, but it picked up. Two lanes were open the
whole time we were there so passage was quite quick.
We walked over to the fence to see
what was happening at the vehicular traffic. A young woman — a
civilian security guard– told us to go away. When we asked why, she
said 'because'. We didn't move and she just went about her checking,
every so often throwing us a hostile look. Each and every car and van
was checked thoroughly so that even though there was little traffic at
the time, it took a long time for people to get through. The wait for
vehicles was between 20 minutes and a half hour — even though there
were very few cars.
what was happening at the vehicular traffic. A young woman — a
civilian security guard– told us to go away. When we asked why, she
said 'because'. We didn't move and she just went about her checking,
every so often throwing us a hostile look. Each and every car and van
was checked thoroughly so that even though there was little traffic at
the time, it took a long time for people to get through. The wait for
vehicles was between 20 minutes and a half hour — even though there
were very few cars.
As we were leaving, Chana fell on a
board that was being held down by a large stone. The board apparently
was covering a pothole in the walkway. Chana took a rather bad spill,
and as she was trying to get up, a young Arab cab driver came over and
asked if we needed help. He wanted to take Chana straight to a
hospital telling us (I wouldn't take any money). We explained that we
had a car and would tend to her needs.
board that was being held down by a large stone. The board apparently
was covering a pothole in the walkway. Chana took a rather bad spill,
and as she was trying to get up, a young Arab cab driver came over and
asked if we needed help. He wanted to take Chana straight to a
hospital telling us (I wouldn't take any money). We explained that we
had a car and would tend to her needs.
As Chana got up, the cab driver came over again and told us to be sure to get her to a hospital and again offered help.
It was a very kind gesture on his
part. Chana got home, was checked by a doctor, and aside from a big
goose egg on her head, a scraped knee and some scratches is fine and
will be out with us next week.
part. Chana got home, was checked by a doctor, and aside from a big
goose egg on her head, a scraped knee and some scratches is fine and
will be out with us next week.
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
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