Qalandiya
05.20. When we arrived there were lines extending well beyond the shed, and quite long lines at each of the 4 checking stations open. The fifth station opened only at 6.40 (with a loud announcement). Progress was reasonable, though, the soldier in the aquarium being attentive. Soon, the lines were almost always contained within the shed.
The humanitarian gate opened at 6.15, by which time about six people had gathered there. The D.C.O. pair of soldiers seemed very inexperienced and it was thanks to a capable guard that it was run efficiently. For some reason the guard also came out to check the waiting lines, but quickly returned to his protected area. He sometimes spoke to people waiting in the cages and would turn around and speak with soldier, (giving instructions to operate the turnstiles?) It was unusual to see the window of the aquarium open.
At 6.50 we joined one of the lines, well within a cage – and when we got through we saw that all the cages were empty. While waiting in line for the checking station,though, we did notice that a few people had gathered in one of the cages and were waiting to go through. The humanitarian gate was closed at that stage, when there was really no need for it.
By 7.05 we were boarding our bus to town.
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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