A large Jewish farmhouse from the lateSecond Temple period has been discovered in Qalandiya.[4][5][6] Occupied from theHellenistic period until its destruction during theFirst Jewish–Roman War, the site includes two large structures and rock-cut industrial facilities, including wine and oil presses.[5][6] The presence of twomiq'vaot and typicalstone vessels indicates the site's Jewish identity.[4] Excavations yielded two completeamphoras, several amphora fragments,[4] hundreds of coins, potsherds, chalk vessels, metal objects, jewelry, and various tools. Nearby exploration revealed burial caves, winepresses, cisterns, and quarries.[5][6]
Ancient tombs have been found at Qalandia.[7] AByzantine bath has been excavated, and pottery from the same period has also been located there.[8][9]
During theCrusader period, it was noted that Qalandia was one of 21 villages given by KingGodfrey as afief to thecanons of theHoly Sepulchre.[7][10][11][12] In 1151 theAbbot leased the use of the vineyards and orchards of Qalandia to a Nemes the Syrian and his brother Anthony and their children. In return the convent was given a part of the yearly production from these fields.[13] In 1152 QueenMelisende exchanged villagers whom she owned for shops and two moneychanger counters in Jerusalem. All the names of the Qalandia villagers were Christian, which indicate that Qalandia was a Christian village at the time.[14][15]
Ottoman era
Qalandia, like the rest of Palestine, was incorporated into theOttoman Empire in 1517, and in the Ottomancensus of 1596, the village, called Qalandiya, was a part of thenahiya ("subdistrict") ofAl-Quds which was under the administration of theliwa ("district") of Al-Quds. The village had a population of 15 households, allMuslim, and paid a fixed tax rate of 33.3% on wheat, barley, olives, beehives and/or goats, in addition to occasional revenues; a total of 3,900akçe.[16]
In 1838, it was noted as a Muslim village in the Jerusalem District.[17][18]
In 1863, the French explorerVictor Guérin visited the village, which he described as smallhamlet consisting of a few houses withfig plantations around them,[19] while an Ottoman village list of about 1870 showed 16 houses and a population of 50, though the population count included only the men.[20][21]
In the1945 survey, Qalandia had a population of 190 Muslims,[26] and a land area of 3,940dunams.[27] 427 dunams were designated for plantations and irrigable land, 2,202 for cereals,[28] while six dunams were built-up.[29]
An airstrip to the east of Qalandia was built by the British army in 1925. It was located a few kilometersnorth of Jerusalem at a site that offered flat terrain in a largely hilly region. In 1936 it was renovated by the Jewish entrepreneurPinchas Rutenberg and began to be used commercially on a limited basis by Rutenberg’s airline, Palestine Airways, and the British carrier, Imperial Airways.[30]
Until 1927, it was the only airport inMandatory Palestine, although there were several military airfields. Qalandia was used for prominent guests bound forJerusalem.[31] It opened for regular flights in 1936.[32]
Jerusalem airport, 1961
After theSix-Day War, it was renamedAtarot Airport by Israel, but closed down due to disturbances related to theIsraeli–Palestinian conflict, and because international companies refused to land there.[33] Israel confiscated 639 dunums from Qalandia village in order to establish a military base at the former airport.[34]
The Qalandiarefugee camp was established in 1949 by theRed Cross[37] on land leased fromJordan. It covers 353 dunums (0.353 km2; 35.3 ha) as of 2006[38] and has a population of 10,024[39] with 935 structures divided into 8 blocks.[38] Israeli authorities consider it part of Greater Jerusalem, and it remains under their control.[40]
TheQalandia checkpoint is the main checkpoint between the northern West Bank and Jerusalem, and is known for frequent demonstrations against the occupation.[43]
The Israeli2013 Qalandia raid led to clashes with local residents, leaving three of Qalandia's inhabitants dead and several critically wounded.[44]
^An Empire in the Holy Land: Historical Geography of the British Administration of Palestine, 1917-1929 Gideon Biger, St. Martin's Press and Magnes Press, New York & Jerusalem, 1994, p. 152
^United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (date unknown). Where We Work - West Bank - Camp Profiles - Kalandia. "The Israeli authorities consider this area as part of Greater Jerusalem, and the camp was thus excluded from the redeployment phase in 1995. Qalandia camp remains under Israeli control today." Retrieved fromhttp://www.unrwa.org/where-we-work/west-bank/camp-profiles?field=12&qt-view__camps__camp_profiles_block=3.
^Garcia-Navarro, Lourdes (2012-07-26). Latest Target For Palestinians' Protest? Their Leader. NPR, 26 July 2012.Archived 2014-06-10 at theWayback Machine
