Hebron, Sansana, South Hebron Hills, Sun 17.1.10, Morning

Date: 17/01/2010 ,Morning

Observers: Leah S., Paula R. (reporting)

Hebron

According to Wye Plantation Accords (1997), Hebron is divided in two: H1 is under Palestinian Authority control, H2 is under Israeli control. In Hebron there are 170,000 Palestinian citizens, 60,000 of them in H2. Between the two areas are permanent checkpoints, manned at all hours, preventing Palestinian movement between them and controlling passage of permit holders such as teachers and schoolchildren. Some 800 Jews live in Avraham Avinu Quarter and Tel Rumeida, on Givat HaAvot and in the wholesale market.

Checkpoints observed in H2:

Bet Hameriva CP- manned with a pillbox
Kapisha quarter CP (the northern side of Zion axis) - manned with a pillbox
The 160 turn CP (the southern side of Zion axis) - manned with a pillbox
Avraham Avinu quarter - watch station
The pharmacy CP - checking inside a caravan with a magnometer
Tarpat (1929) CP - checking inside a caravan with a magnometer
Tel Rumeida CP - guarding station
Beit Hadassah CP - guarding station

Three checkpoints around the Tomb of the Patriarchs

Close description

translated by Naomi S.

So what did we have on this sunny day, preceding the storm?

Sansana-Meytar
Workers have already gone through.

Route 60
All along the road traffic was scarce, but bi-national. As schools are shut for the winter-break, no children were seen along the road either.

Hebron
No detainees at any CP, all densely manned next to every curve.

This is only apparent quiet, of course. On January 14^th 70 olive trees were taken down at Tawani (according to the Maon report). According to the ESM children in "our" Hebron suffered harsh harassment. But none of this was seen on our shift.

On our way back, beyond the Jif grocery (where I bought some local herb, which I then cut and fried) Leah called my attention to the fact that between Sousiya and Maon (two settlements) lighting was set on both sides of the road, explicitly announcing that this all should be seen as a single, annexed piece of land. But the day was beautiful.