Qalandiya - Wishing that every morning were like this
A Morning as It Should Be
On the way from the parking lot to the checkpoint, we discussed the high rate of Covid infection in the West Bank, reminding ourselves to keep our distance in talking with Palestinians or waiting in line because it was only last week that Israel began vaccinating Palestinians who have work permits to enter Israel. We reached our destination at 6:00 and at first thought the checkpoint was empty. But as we got closer to the steps leading to it we saw a light but constant stream of people arriving through the only entrance to the compound, from the east. Except for a few minutes between about 6:30 and 6:45, all three entrances to the building were open (only the middle one was closed during this time). Closer to 7:00 the flow increased but nowhere near the point where it caused the creation of lines. In short, a steady flow inward, just like during the opening days of the new checkpoint.
The traffic jam on the road leading into the vehicle checkpoint also continued without letup and was particularly noisy this morning.
No one approached us to ask for help. We paid a short visit to Abu Ramzi, the bagel seller, at the entrance to the compound, and all is well with him (except for his income).
We left at 7:15 when the flow decreased. Our transit into and through the checkpoint was quick and easy until we reached the document check. With only one soldier on duty for this purpose, a line formed by his booth of people who do not carry biometric permits (which are checked by machine) and must therefore show an appropriate document to the soldier and receive his permission (a nod of the head) to continue forward and out of the checkpoint. Of course, no one practiced social distancing on that line. But we stood there for only a few minutes.
Would that every morning were like this at Qalandiya.
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-16-2026Qalandiya CP: shortcut
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