Qalandiya, Tue 4.6.13, Morning
We reached the checkpoint at 05:40. The lines were short; crossing took about 15 minutes. From 06:00 the revolving gate at the end of the left-hand fenced corridor remained open and everyone arriving went through freely until we left at 07:00. All morning those entitled to use the humanitarian gate decided they’d reach their destination more quickly by passing through the fenced corridors, perhaps because they didn’t see any DCO soldier at the humanitarian gate.
A woman carrying a baby arrived at the humanitarian gate but the DCO soldier in charge was in the “aquarium,” behind a closed door. We called him and were about to telephone the humanitarian office to ask them to tell him to come open the gate. The soldier emerged, explaining he’s not allowed to open the gate without a police escort, and no police officer was available. We hadn’t met the soldier before. We assumed he was new on the job and asked whether he was referring to a security guard. In any case, we said, we’re sure no harm will come to him from the woman and baby if he’ll open the gate for them. The woman finally got tired of our negotiations, entered the fenced corridor and went through the revolving gate by pushing with her elbows. Anoher woman arrived at the gate carrying a small child; we called the soldier from the aquarium who opened the gate for her without a guard being present (two guards later made a brief appearance).
The conclusion: It’s very convenient when people can cross freely to the inspection stations and there’s no need for the humanitarian gate. But, when someone’s who’s entitled to use it arrives, there’s a reason. Why get a soldier out of bed early in the morning only to sit him in the aquarium, where he can’t see people who require his services? And why send him to “work” without providing a guard, if that’s what he needs to do his job?
After we hadn’t seen them for a few weeks, two guys from “Blue-White” appeared at the checkpoint with a journalist from “Jerusalem Report.” The journalist also asked our opinion of that group, and we have to admit that we haven’t much patience to answer that question which is asked repeatedly at this early hour – particularly since Mr. Hendel uses the articles he arranges about himself and his group to badmouth Machsom Watch. But we spoke to the journalist by phone later in the day and answered all his questions.
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-27-2025Qalandiya: A beggar woman
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