Format: 09/02/2012
Format: 17:03
Format: 09/02/2012
Format: 17:03

Sansana, Sun 14.2.10, Morning

14/02/2010 ,Morning
Anat S., Tamar B. (reports)
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:

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

Three checkpoints around the Tomb of the Patriarchs

Close description

Translation: Bracha B.A.

Sansana-Meitar Crossing

We arrived at the crossing at 05:20 AM.  People asked us to do something about the Sunday congestions at the crossing. It appears that people are still traumatized by the incident in which a person who was taken to the hospital from the crowded line last week then died.  Various reports reach us while we were there about how many people were injured in that incident.
From observing matters at the entrance it appears that things are going very slowly and therefore there is a lot of congestion and a long line.  We asked to speak with Shlomi, the CP's manager in chief.  Instead, we got the person in charge of security come out to us and he claimed that about 250 people go through every ten minutes. This figure appears to be exaggerated.  We got Shlomi's phone number from him and went on, to examine conditions at the exit. 
At first we counted 30 people coming out every ten minutes. The person in charge of security came out and saw that we were still there and went back in.  Miraculously things began to move faster…!  There were not 250 people coming out every ten minutes, but about 60 or 70. We felt that there was definitely a good reason for our being there.  The Palestinians asked us to do something about the bad situation.  There is no reason for people to have to line up for over an hour!! Most people coming out of the checkpoint are angry and this can lead to no good.

We agreed that Anat would speak to Shlomi to see how things might be improved.  We suggest that we observe this checkpoint at least once a week to see what is going on.
As of February 19th we have still not managed to contact Shlomi.  Despite his promises he has still not returned our phone call.

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