Qalandiya, Tue 17.1.12, Morning
Unfortunately, all the positive things we wrote and told our colleagues about Qalandiya over the past two weeks were wiped out this morning. While still out in the parking lot at 06:00 we could hear the dawn shouts of protests of the Qalandiya we know and despair of. Long lines led into the three cage-like passages before the first turnstiles, and there was already a small crowd by the Humanitarian Gate, although all five checking stations were open. It was so cold that ink in my pen froze. When we arrived there were two officers on duty, one from the blue police and the other from the Civil Administration. Our colleague from the EAPPI (Ecumenical volunteers from Europe), who had been there since 04:30, told us that the problem began at about 05:00 due to the inefficiency and lack of interest of the woman soldier in charge of opening the turnstiles. The police officer arrived at 05:30; the Civil Administration officer entered at 06:00 and opened the Humanitarian Gate. Thereafter another two Civil Administration officers joined the group. One of them, known to us as very professional― who had told us the week before about the efforts being made to improve the management of the checkpoint―approached us, apparently in chagrin, to joke that only when we turn up is there a mess at Qalandiya and asked us never to return.
At 07:00 the lines leading into the three passages still extended to the back of the covered area, but each time the Humanitarian Gate was opened the entire crowd in front of it was allowed through. At 07:20, when we left, the situation had calmed considerably as the lines barely extended beyond the three cage-like passages and more people were being allowed through the turnstiles each time they opened. We waited only a short time to drive through the vehicle passage, and we could see that the line for Jerusalem I.D. holders was reasonably short, though the bitter cold and strong wind certainly added no pleasure to their wait.
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 FleishmanApr-26-2026Qalandiya. Things you see on the way
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