Qalandiya, Wed 4.7.12, Afternoon
Translator: Charles K.
Since we came from two locations, we have two reports.
- The plaza at the entrance to the Atarot industrial zone has been finished, to the greater glory of the state of Israel. Photos attached.
- As use to be the case, right after the turn from Neve Ya’akov to Beit Hanina a Border Police vehicle parks in the middle of the road randomly inspects vehicles.
The construction of the decorative wall at the junction with Highway 443 has almost
been completed. There’s a gap right below the lower road at the junction between the village of Qalandiya and Beit Iqsa (where we used to go down to observe). Maybe a gate is planned there?
The sign says “Qalandiya obstacle” 
(named for the village?!). Since when do they dare use a non-Israeli name…
What’s certain is that no one driving on Highway 443 will notice the road through the tunnel below.
Returning on Highway 443, signs to the Jordan Valley, Beit El, Jerusalem. Beit El must be of the same order of importance.
15:45 The usual traffic jam at the checkpoint at the southern junction, toward Ramallah.
Fenced corridors 1 and 4 are open.
16:00 The A-Ram gate opens briefly, easing the congestion.
Taxi drivers at both locations say the soldiers, and in particular the security staff, curse the drivers. “They curse in the presence of his wife; it’s forbidden to curse in the presence of women.”
A boy on a bicycle inside the checkpoint
.
16:30 The two fenced corridors are open. We crossed relatively quickly.
At the same time, laborers flowed home from working as our hewers of wood and drawers of water, which only heightened again what I felt when I got on the “Ramallah Express” on my way to the checkpoint.
Though the bus drives on the new Pisgat Ze’ev-Neve Ya’akov road, the feeling is of a parallel reality. Two peoples leading lives almost next to one another. As if I’d gone abroad, but I’m only 7-8 minutes from home.
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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