Update during Corona: Qalandiya - despair in the shadow of the Corona virus
Despair in the shadow of the Corona virus
Closure + Coronavirus is a bit like the photos being broadcast from the Ben Gurion international airport.
Whoever make their living from the passengers say: no people = no livelihood.
Not many came to the checkpoint, but a considerable number of those who did come did not know of the closure nor ever heard of (the Jewish holiday of) Purim. Each of them presented their ID and a valid transit permit, and were sent back.
They said that by order of Palestinian President Abu Mazen, all school in the West Bank have been shut down for a whole month, and in the Gaza Strip – which differentiates itself from the West Bank – the school system has shut down for ten days.
The Allenby Crossing (into Jordan) has also been shut down. Until When? – Until it is reopened…
On my way back I was detained because: on principle Israelis are not allowed through here, said the woman-soldier.
After me, Imani arrived: she works for the Swiss delegation in Ramallah and was on her way to an important conference in Tel Aviv. Imani presented to the woman-soldier her ID, a valid transit permit, and her invitation to the conference. After a brief glance at the documents, the soldier instructed Imani to turn back. Why? – Closure.
Imani remained, insisted, argued, protested for half an hour, demanded to see senior personnel.
No senior arrived. A security guard did. He repeated the old mantras: Nothing to be done… Not my own decision… It’s the computer’s decision… These are the instructions.
When Imani was not convinced, he called up the police which, as expected, backed up the soldier and the security guard.
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-27-2026Qalandiya: On the way to prayer
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