Qalandiya

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Chana Stein (translating), Ronit Dahan-Ramati (reporting and photographing)

Mar-29-2017

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Morning

A reasonable day, the kiosk has returned in a new form, and an unexpected visitor – a horse

05.15 Because of the clock change, still dark at this hour. There is a stretch leading to the checkpoint which is unlit and without a sidewalk. People walking at the side of the road are constantly in danger.

This area is under Jerusalem municipality control, but already for years the lighting has not worked. This morning was cold and we saw a group of men warming themselves around their little fire.

At the entrance, on the Israeli side of the checkpoint, was a group praying. Inside, lines were already extending beyond the shed. All 5 checking stations were open. An unexpected visitor awaited us beside one of the lines – a horse. People joked about his wanting to enter, but not having a permit.

A hourse Qalandiya 29.3.17 Ronit Dahan Ramati.jpg — A guest in Qalandiya - a horse

The beigel seller had not noticed him and was surprised by him. Meanwhile those waiting helped it to drink from the ‘fountain.’ They seemed to recognize him as belonging to a family living nearby towards A-Ram.

Meanwhile the soldier in the booth was admitting quite a lot of people each time through the turnstiles, so that the lines mostly were contained within the shed. Our friend H. waved to us. Yesterday Ronit visited him at his workplace and was happy to see that his mood was much improved. Yet his ribs are still bothering him. R. suggested to his employer that he send him for an X-ray. Seeing that the hurt was caused by the pushing at the checkpoint on a heavy day, this was on the ways to work – and, therefore, a work accident which should be covered by National Insurance.

Towards 5.45 a policeman arrived. At about 6.10 a D.C.O. soldier arrived, with 2 guards, followed by a policewoman. Because conditions in the regular lines were reasonable, women and a few men who could be entitled to use the humanitarian gate were standing there. But when they saw the humanitarian gate opening they rushed over there.

We went outside and saw that the tea kiosk had reopened – this time operating from inside a van, so that it could move if necessary. We have to earn a living, says Muhammad. We were happy to hear from him that the women from Gaza, whom Ronit and Liora had met two weeks ago, in the end did get permission to pass, with the help of our friend Yael.

New kiosk Qalandiya 29.3.17 Ronit Dahan Ramati.jpg — The kiosk in its new format

At about 6.40 the lines were very much shorter and we joined one. It took 25 minutes for us to pass and we reached relatively early.

The following day, when Ronit and Liora travelled to Qalandiya in the afternoon, they saw that the work on the Israeli side of the checkpoint and on the roads leading to it, had already begun. In front of the square leading to the checkpoint are white fences at the sides of the road and works in progress, apparently part of the enlargement of the checkpoint. Perhaps we will get also sidewalks and lighting?

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-5-2024

Tamar Fleishman

Qalandiya: The men who were refused passage, return

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