Qalandiya, Mon 9.7.12, Morning

Date: 09/07/2012 ,Morning

Observers: Judy Orstav, Maya Bailey, (reporting)

Qalandiya

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.

Click here to watch a video from Qalandiya checkpoint.

Close description

05:55 we are in the waiting hall of Qalandiya. Three fairly long lines at each of the carousels.

The soldier is being exchanged, and therefor it moves slowly.

Then only one carousel is being opened and in a split second what was an orderly, slow moving line

becomes a hysteric hell. In no time crazy pushing and shouting for the first line gets into motion.

Five minutes later all is well again and by 07:20 almost everyone who wanted to cross , was gone.

The Humanitarian gate worked normally and the police officer in the courtyard was doing his job by trying to be alert to the lines and the gate. It is miserable, but it works under the circumstances that exist there.