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Qalandiya, Tue 23.8.11, Morning
Observers: Avital T', Ina F' (reporting)
The lines leading to the first turnstiles are short when we arrive at Qalandia at 6:05. A Civil Administration officer is already on the scene, and the Humanitarian Gate is operating (and continues to open each time a woman, an elderly man, or a few people congregate in front of it). But soon the lines leading to the first turnstiles build up and extend to outside the covered waiting, while those in the “sleeves” of all five checking stations are quite short. After our arrival, the turnstiles are not opened for a full 15 minutes, during which one can sense the impatience and tension rising on the waiting lines. The woman soldier in charge of opening the turnstiles is thoroughly absorbed in eating her breakfast, while the CA officer present at the Humanitarian Gate is either ignoring or satisfied with the situation of long, stuck lines leading to the turnstiles.
In a brief conversation with a security guard, we impart our observed benefit of allowing many people at once through the turnstiles. This admittedly leads to long lines entering the “sleeves,” but getting through the first turnstile seems to ease the psychological pressure on those traversing the checkpoint. Shortly thereafter, the CA officer speaks with the woman soldier responsible for opening the three first turnstiles, and she allows some 75 people through them at once. Thereafter, she opens them approximately every 3-4 minutes, until the narrow, cage-like passageways are empty, and at 6:45 she leaves the turnstiles open for newcomers to pass through freely as they arrive. This is the situation when we leave at 6:55.
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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 FleishmanFeb-27-2026Qalandiya: On the way to prayer
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