Qalandiya, יום ה' 12.2.09, אחה"צ

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Feb-12-2009

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Afternoon

Observers: Yael I. and Ilana D. (reporting)

Anata, Beth El and Atara

2:30 till 5:30 PM

The entrances to both Anata and the Shuafat Refugee camps were almost
empty - the Northern CP looks even more reinforced and the wall almost
reaches the CP

We drove via Hizme and turned off towards Beth El, wenoticed many buses on
the well-kept illuminated access road to the settlement and a few compounds
with caravans probably the future extensions. On the way back we stopped
before the CP wondering which kind of VIP's are allowed to take this road
towards Ramalla. We saw many CD-cars, some UN- and ICRC (Red Cross)
vehicles, but also a number of cars with yellow number plates. After a while
a soldier walked over to us and asked us whether he could be of help. We
asked him who may use this CP and he stated only VIP's and people with
special licenses, for instance Israeli Arab doctors who work in Ramalla. He
didn't know who we were and aware of his ultra-orthodox looks we didn't
enlighten him. No car was held up and most were not even checked. Apparently
people know not to use this CP without permission.

On the way to Atara we noted twice some yellow cabs near gates info-icon where a road
had been blocked off. When we got closer it became clear that there was a
MAJOR traffic jam. It took us forty minutes from just before the bridge over
the road to reach the CP. Two huge trucks in opposite directions had
apparently been unable to make the turn to and from Bit Zeit and with
traffic coming from both directions unable to move back, the knot could not
be solved. Finally an army jeep arrived and traffic started moving. From
below on the main road we saw that all the cars from the direction of Bir
Zeit were allowed to continue freely (admittedly after a long wait, but not
because of the CP). When we arrived at the turn-off we there were two
soldiers at the bottom of the road with drawn rifles directing the traffic.
They were not communicative, only stated that this can happen. When we
passed the CP and wanted to park at our usual spot more soldiers with drawn
rifles were standing where we always park so we decided to put the car on
the Atara side of the bridge. As we walked back a soldier from the
observation tower shouted at us not to continue on foot through the CP after
the bridge, but we found small earth-mound from where we had an excellent
view of the entire CP and the proceedings. All cars were let through without
any sterile info-icon space before the CP. Many drivers waved happily at us. At least
ten soldiers (in the regular army) were standing around with drawn rifles.
Hundreds of cars passed unhampered. A driver to Atara told us that this
happens every day. Those who had made the detour to come from the side road
next to the CP were made to wait for a long time until the entire line of
vehicles had passed. After they had all gone through, another queue from the
Bit Zeit direction had formed. Meanwhile there was no more traffic uphill
from the main road and things appeared to quiet down. A yellow cab was
stopped and all its passengers were told to leave the car - within five
minutes their papers were returned and they were sent on their way. The flow
of cars had slowed down, the soldiers blocked their rifles again and we
left.

Location Description

Qalandiya Checkpoint

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)

Apr-17-2024

Tamar Fleishman

Qalandiya: New automated surveillance system

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