Qalandiya, Tue 8.11.11, Morning
Today was the second day of holiday of Eid el-Adha. Yet many men were going to work, and there was higher than usual number of women and children at the checkpoint (perhaps on their way to visit relatives on the holiday). Thus we arrived at 6:10 to find long lines both leading into the three narrow, cage-like passageways and in front of the Humanitarian Gate. The three turnstiles at the end of the narrow passages opened at about 6:18 but only 15 people in all were allowed through. This was because only two of the five checking stations were operating at that hour. Thereafter, the turnstiles were opened only once every 15 minutes or so, and a maximum of 30 or so people in all were allowed through each time.
The Humanitarian Gate did not open until 6:25, when some 80 people were allowed through, after their passes were checked. It did not open again until 6:55 – half an hour later—by which time a crowd of approx. 120 people, including some 10 infants and toddlers (from what we could see) was crowded in front of it. We asked the Civil Administration officer on site (a man who we have come to know as pleasant and who actually takes the trouble to communicate with his “clients” at the checkpoint) why he was not opening the gate when he could see the many young children being caught in the crush. He replied that men standing at the head of the line there were not entitled to use the gate, and he would not open it until they left. We commented that he was punishing infants and toddlers for the sins of others and suggested that, after opening the gate, he check the passes of those he suspected of not being entitled to use it and send back those who did not qualify (a common practice at Qalandia). In reply, he suggested that those justly waiting to use the Humanitarian Gate pressure the others to leave. At this point we called the Humanitarian Line, which transferred us to the DCO – all to no avail. We then took counsel with Hanna Barag, as the situation at the Humanitarian Gate was at an impasse. The gate was finally opened after half an hour. Thereafter it was opened each time a crowd built up. Incidentally, it did not appear that passes were checked.
Earlier we had called the DCO to describe the overall situation and ask to ask why checking stations 3-5 were not operating. The reply was that relatively few people had come to the checkpoint on the first day of Eid el-Adha, so that soldiers were assigned for only two checking stations this morning. A third station opened sometime after 7:00, and we told by the Civil Administration officer on site that Stations 4-5 would be opened at 8:00 (well after laborers were to have reported to work). A man at the end of one of the lines told us in a phone call later in the morning that it had taken him 1 hour and 45 minutes (from 7:00) to traverse the checkpoint.
When we left at 7:30 (to take a child to Hadassah Hospital), about 100 people were waiting to move through the three turnstiles and some 20 people were standing in front of the Humanitarian Gate.
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 FleishmanJul-21-2026Qalandiya. Conversation in the shadow of the wall
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