The checkpoint, frequented now by just a few, was empty and quiet
“There are people in Ghetto Gaza” – screamed graffiti on the Separation Wall of Road 1.
Yes, there are people in Ghetto Gaza, and even after a 2-year-long revenge campaign, apparently, we have not yet murdered enough of them. And what about the West Bank?
Many people greeted me with “Happy Holidays”, reminding me again of Albert Memmi who wrote: “The country conducts its (the occupier’s) traditional holidays, even the religious ones, NOT the indigenous ones”.
We wondered together whether or not there is closure, and what I heard was – closure? – what is half-closure? – who even cares? – it’s been like this for two years now – what does it matter if one says ‘closure’? – what is it here if not permanent closure?
They said that only people holding a blue (Israeli) ID have permission to work, or a lucky Palestinian (‘lucky to have the king’s approval’) working in the colonies.
“And what are we?” the taxi driver half-said half-asked. “We spend the little money we have on gas and cigarettes. It’s difficult even to buy a cup of coffee.”
Everyone watches videos from Gaza, all ache with the blood shed in Gaza, everyone speaks of the duration of the fighting, asking whether the end is in sight, and there is he who says decidedly: “it will take another three years”. This reminds me of the late Chaim Peri who told Adina Moshe: “It will take at least two years”.
I don’t know who’s right, I only know that he asked whether I too see the pictures of the killed children of Gaza.
The checkpoint, frequented now by just a few, was empty and quiet.
We were three, standing in front of the only gate still active, and without saying anything the secured soldiers facing us got up, collected their rifles and locked the passage.
Great was our embarrassment. My two interlocutors began to run amid all the gates, but nothing helped. Minutes went by until suddenly armed soldiers appeared, make the mechanism work and freed us.
Location Description
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 FleishmanNov-30-2025Qalandiya: Puddles and dirt after the rain
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