Tarqumiya

Guest: Shachar

Translator:  Charles K.

Meitar crossing

Many laborers arrived despite the rain and fog. They’re waiting on the Israeli side of the crossing for their employers to pick them up

Route 60.

Nothing out of the ordinary along the road.  The weather affects everyone.

Hebron

The security guard at the entrance to Kiryat Arba again asks who we are, and we again must remind him that we’re all citizens with equal rights [that’s what’s written, at least] and that it’s unacceptable to demand an ID only from someone who doesn’t look Jewish. Again he explains that he has the authority and instructions from the police to ask for IDs.  Again he calls “big brother;” what a quixotic battle in one of the bastions of Israeli racism.  We’ll continue; even stones are worn away by water. 

Golani soldiers in the town since last Thursday. Their signs stand out at the base at the entrance to town.

Rain, fog and bone-chilling cold.

Hagit and Shachar again walk along the new apartheid path which is marked similarly to those of the Nature Protection Society, indicating the shortcut for residents of Tel Rumeida, beginning at the stairs up to the Cordova school/

I remain with our driver because of what has happened in the past; it’s not a good idea to leave him alone here.

They, of course, run into a soldier who reminds them that this path is restricted to the Jewish residents of Tel Rumeida.  And, of course…a bottle is thrown at them from one of the trailers.

That’s how it ends this time.  Otherwise, nothing special occurred.

Next to one of the houses along the road down from Tel Rumeida to the Tarpa”t checkpoint we met a man who lives there.  He’s a physician working in town, in the H1 area. 

“Everything is ok,” he says.  “It’s hard, of course, that I can’t drive my car from home to the hospital,” but everything is ok.

Everything is deserted and closed down, even – by and large - around the Cave of the Patriarchs.  There are always Jewish visitors coming in groups, despite the weather.

We drove home via the Tarqumiya crossing. 

Highway 35

Quiet and deserted.  The soldiers came down from the pillbox next to the grocery but haven’t detained anyone.

At Tarqumiya they’re as “nice” as ever.  Again the questions – who are we, where did we come from.  Again asking to see only M’s ID.  We insist they check ours also.  Again they send us to the inspection area on our right.  They open and inspect the car.  Again they ask for our IDs.  The inspector smiles apologetically.  “Orders.”  “Can’t she exercise any discretion?” we ask.  Can’t you see we’re not security risks?  A shrug.  “Do you also ask residents of Telem and Adura for IDs?”

“Yes,” she replies grudgingly.  Why don’t we believe her?

Translator:  Charles K.

We saw the first workers from the Sansana checkpoint when we left Omer at 6:30 AM.  And when we went through on the way to Hebron, the shed on the Palestinian side was empty.  The road was pretty crowded, mostly with cars bearing PA license plates.  Boys and girls walked to school by the side of the road.  The landscape these days, just before winter, is particularly lovely, the plowed fields a deep brown color, the vineyards turning yellow.  Clouds slowly cover the blue skies.  And here we are, at the checkpoint before Giv’at HaMoreh.  On our left, the buildings of the illegal outpost that keeps growing.

Soldiers stationed in the house opposite the Worshippers Route, some watching the road.  Checkpoint 160 is open; two PA cars go through.  We meet CPT and TIPH people, who monitor the crossings used by schoolchildren.  It’s nearly 8 AM; the air fills with the sound of some march coming from loudspeakers of nearby schools.  I was able, for the first time, to peek in the Havat Yehuda compound adjoining the military base on Shuohada Street – King David Street - the apartheid road, divided by a green net fence that begins at the base’s courtyard.  It looks like the crossing via the base isn’t operating these days. 

We returned via the Tarqumiyya crossing without being delayed.  We briefly glanced from a distance but saw no improvement in the dilapidated shed or the overall cleanliness of the Palestinian side, despite promises to improve and clean up that entrance area.

Translator:  Charles K.

Today, when we arrived, we were glad to see, facing us, our acquaintance, Dudi, the assistant manager of the Tarqumiyya crossing, and even more pleased that when we returned he was there and insured we weren’t delayed by annoying and unnecessary inspections.

No problems today at the entrance to Kiryat Arba, but it’s difficult to watch Giv’at Avichai expanding.  Today we already counted 9-10 buildings and an automobile.

Two armed Border Police soldiers stand at the blocked entrance to the worshippers route; at Curve 160 the soldier stands outside on a concrete block with weapon drawn – an “exhilarating” sight.

The Pharmacy checkpoint is completely quiet.  Today’s still a holiday – Eid al-Adha – there are few cars and people around, and many children in the streets.

A sign:  “Amona, Migron…We’ll be there!”

Shuhada Street is empty, two pretty relaxed paratroopers at the Tarpat checkpoint, people simply going through the facility.  We ask, “What finally happened with the teachers from the Kordova school?”  The lieutenant replies:  All of them have to go through the scanner.  It’s been checked; there’s no problem of radiation.

Coffee and ceramic bowls at ‘Abed’s, Border Police soldiers across the road detain a few youths briefly, inspect and release them.

A large group of Hungarian tourists passes on its way to the Cave of the Patriarchs.

Everything’s good as usual at Azzam’s metal shop, Orit orders tables and a stove, Raya orders a portable barbecue.

The grocery across the way has excellent cucumbers for pickling.

As I said – we cross smoothly through Tarqumiyya on our return

Translator:  Charles K.

Hebron

The photographs (see below, end of report) don’t do justice to the atmosphere, voices, odors and what morning feels like in this city. 

A city overflowing with the ugliness, evil, violence and lawlessness of the settlers and the security forces, like nowhere else in Israel. A city seeking to embody ancient Jewish sanctity, tradition and culture, but which makes those passing through it feel only disgust and sorrow.

Nothing on our way to the city today hinted at what we’d find there. The trip was “normal” – the sights, the schoolchildren along the roads. We’d even recently noticed the improvements in Highway 60 after it was no longer an “apartheid” road, and is now filled with vehicles of every kind.

At the entrance to Kiryat Arba we got a taste of what was to come. The guard, a local, commented cynically, “You’ve come today also? Why?” They have the authority (or decided they do) to detain, interrogate, notify whoever must be notified, or even to deny entry to anyone they deem unworthy of entering the city of the patriarchs. He again wants to check only our driver’s ID (“I know it by heart,” he says proudly).  Asks us to wait.

“Have you come because of the demonstration at the Police checkpoint?” He speaks into the walkie-talkie, sentence fragments about incitement, the situation heating up, etc. “I need authorization to let you enter.”

When we saw Ofer Ohana waiting and photographing us we understood whom the guard was coordinating with. 

“What do you think?,” I ask the guard at the entrance. “That when you come to Omer to visit we’ll stop you and decide whether to let you in?” He stammers some response and allows us to continue.

All along the road from the entrance to Hebron to the Cave of the Patriarchs and its surroundings are soldiers, also on the rooftops. Buses with visitors coming for Sukkot begin arriving, although the “Jewish exception” days are only tomorrow and Tuesday. Everything’s already closed today, full of security personnel.

But when we reached the Tarpat checkpoint, which the army calls the Police checkpoint, we saw Ofer taking photographs and, as usual, talking uninterruptedly. Many peace groups and security forces are on the Palestinian side of the checkpoint. Teachers from the Cordova school are organizing a demonstration.

The IDF’s battle against the teachers of Hebron’s Cordova school:

A little history and explanation

Cordova is a private girls' school on a hill opposite Beit Hadassah and other educational institutions in Hebron’s Jewish quarter. Due to its “problematic” location, its entrance steps are blocked by concertina wire; alternative steps, steep and dangerous, have been installed on the other side of the hill. To prevent Palestinians from walking along this section of the street, they’ve all been ordered to make a detour and go up on the other side.

Our struggle to restore access to Shuhada street wasn’t successful, but at

least a railing was installed and the stairs somewhat improved. Pupils and teachers from Tel Rumeida and other neighborhoods come to school every morning through checkpoints and via detours. About four years ago the teachers requested to be allowed through without being required to pass through the magnemometer twice a day on their way to school and on the way home, because they’re known and are permanent staff members. Most of them are young, some are pregnant; they were concerned about effects on their health and also felt entitled to minimal respect and trust. The previous principal said she recognized the right of Jews to live here, but that they themselves should be allowed an equal right. After much effort, the IDF understood that security wouldn’t be reduced if a specific group of women were permitted to go through an alternate opening twice a day, without having to go through the scanner, and that’s what happened. We thought the army wouldn’t be bothered by the fact that Hebron residents might feel they’d achieved a slight victory, and that the “generosity” it had displayed would be to its benefit. It turns out we were mistaken. Recently the army decided to reinstitute the previous arrangement. “Why?,” we asked the deputy brigade commander, a tough, energetic guy who explained that there’s different intelligence information today, and everyone must go through the magnemometer.

The school has been shut since last Tuesday. The teachers demonstrate until the afternoon, and then hold classes there, not at the school. When we arrived we saw a teacher being dragged and arrested by Border Police soldiers, and forced into a patrol car. Ofer says he saw and photographed her slapping a female soldier. “Arrest her?!  She should be killed!” he shouts, adding comments about us that make the cellphone blush. We speak to the deputy brigade commander who says he’ll “interrogate her and decide what to do.”

The demonstration continues (photos, middle); additional forces arrive with various pieces of equipment. After about an hour, two important Palestinian personages arrive from Area H1. They introduce themselves as Ministry of Education officials. A short discussion with one officer, and wonder of wonders: the criminal who slapped the soldier is released and goes off with the officials (photos, bottom). Someone apparently understood or realized that even if the Palestinian woman dared refuse an order to move back, that didn’t justify her detention. “But now they’ll pay. We never lose a battle,” the soldiers say.

The teacher went home and more forces came and began firing stun grenades and tear gas. Then came a rain of stones. We call the brigade commander, Col. Guy Hazut. He explains patiently and at length that there were a number of incidents in the wake of which they decided to close the alternate entry, and require everyone to go through the magnemometer.

“What happened?,” we ask. “Did the teachers do something? Allow anything? Did you find something in the school?”

“No, they caught a boy with a box cutter, and other such things.”

That’s apparently the intelligence information on the basis of which IDF officers reached the simplistic solution of punishing everyone crossing here and withdrawing the minor humanitarian concession whose previous "achievement" proved so meaningful to the local population. We continue talking to him, trying to explain that such an incident can only worsen the atmosphere in this sensitive location. We suggest they indicate the change is temporary, because of the holidays, and when they’re over the previous arrangement will be reinstated.

The brigade commander promises to consider it, while his diligent deputy continues to blow up the neighborhood.

“Right, we have to show them! Now it’s Sukkot, the people of Israel have to come pray, the day after tomorrow their prisoners are being released, they musn’t forget who’s in charge here.”

Quiet returns. Tomorrow and the following day are “Jewish exception” days. The number of soldiers everywhere, from many field units, is unbelievable. Tomorrow, probably no one will be allowed to move.

Hebron’s Jews, meanwhile, stroll dressed in white, waving etrogs and lulavs among the soldiers and at every corner.  Sheltered by a true canopy of peace.

Route 60

We drove to see what was happening in the area of the terrible attack which killed a father and his infant son on Route 60, near Route 35. We reached Beit Anun. Soldiers have settled on the roof of the house overlooking the road, employing the “straw widow” procedure (soldiers taking over a Palestinian home and removing its residents from the roof and/or upper floors).  We went in to see whether they’d provided a document explaining their actions and confirming the inhabitants’ rights.

“Great,” they provided it. But it doesn’t include the name of the family who’s entitled to demand compensation for damages. So when they try to submit a claim, who’ll pay any attention to this non-specific document? It’s worth no more than toilet paper. The family shows us broken windows – settlers broke them a few days earlier. The police came but did nothing. The soldiers are only on the roof. They arrived today; the family doesn’t know when they’ll leave. We ask the soldiers not to further burden the family by using the roof as a toilet, with all that involves.

“We’re not animals,” they reply.

“True. But sometimes, without even noticing, people act like animals.”

We’ll follow up.

Tarqumiyya crossing

We’re treated sternly. Interrogated – where did we come from, whom did we meet, with whom did we talk. We made an appointment with Zion, the manager of the crossing, for next week. He’s insulted and angry. He says we wrote lies about him. We’ll listen, and have our say.

.

Translator:  Charles K.

  Tarqumiyya

Following the previous report about Tarqumiyya, we spoke to Israeli drivers waiting here for passengers who told us that the situation is terrible, it’s the worst of all the crossings (Meitar and others…).  Both the physical conditions and the way people are treated – humiliations, harsh policies, etc.

We spoke with Zion, the crossing director – he wanted to hear all the complaints – also about how we were treated the previous time we were here, and he has answers and explanations for everything, and a promise that a contractor has already begun constructing what’s missing.

Hebron

A few children running around the streets, otherwise quiet.

Cave of the Patriarchs: Children playing on the grass (a summer camp?)

Michael and Yehuda, from Breaking the Silence, are going around with representatives of the American Consulate. 

At the Border Police booth, soldiers have detained four people. The soldier says that there are more attempts to carry out attacks because of Ramadan. It turns out that he’s the soldier who was the target of an attempted stabbing two days ago near the casbah. He’s fine.

The detainees waited about 25 minutes; their complaints didn’t help because the Shin Bet – according to the soldier – can detain them for as long as necessary…and he hasn’t yet been authorized to release them.

All along our route things seemed pretty quiet. The soldiers at Tel Rumeida were glad of the opportunity to spend a little time with us, understand who and what we are. They’re “keeping track” of a Jewish girl who came through here, checking to see whether she reached her destination, “because someone was raped here [some] months ago.” (Has any of us heard about this??)

On our way back we were again stopped at the Tarqumiyya crossing, insistent on checking what we had in the vehicle, including removing a large table we’d bought at Azzam’s metal shop which requires two people to remove from the car and put through the scanner (it barely fit), and also, of course, the bags of figs and grapes were examined, all this despite the fact that Zion was around and saw us, and it didn’t matter that we’d spoken to him that morning…

I wonder why they’ve become so much stricter than in the past at this crossing, and apparently also at other crossings (can anyone find out?)

Translation: Bracha B.A.

At Michal's request we began our shift at Tarquomiya in order to check the physical conditions on the Palestinian side of the checkpoint. We found that the area is neglected and dirty: the roof of the shelter was torn and so was the shelter itself. There are only two crossing points in the sleeve and hundreds of people cross through here every day. The entire area is filthy and there are no toilets or drinking fountains. 

.  We spoke with Tzion, the manager, who informed us that they has requested that a drinking fountain and squatting toilets be installed.  All this is due to take place before the end of September. We will follow up.   

From there we drove to Hebron via the north Hebron Road. At the entrance to the main road there was a military vehicle, but there was no one about except soldiers. It is Ramadan and at 09:00 in the morning no one is present except for the soldiers. 

Translation: Bracha B.A.

Tarquomiya Crossing

We were pleased that Dudi, the vice-manager of the crossing, came up to us to clarify what had happened there the last time we were here (we were detained and when we attempted to ask why the guard closed the window in our face and refused to talk to us). We gave him details and he promised to clarify what had happened.

We entered Kiryat Arba without any problems. The Border Patrol is patrolling in the city. There is a sign on Beit Gutnick that reads: "Israeli Sovereignty in Judea and Samaria" and we saw other similar signs in the city. 

There are two TIPH volunteers at Abed's place near the Cave of the Patriarchs – one Turkish and one Sudanese from Norway. The Turkish volunteer is eager to talk to us and explains that the Jews in Turkey have no problems and that he has a lot of Jewish friends and neighbors. He explained how their organization works here. The streets are quiet and children wander about on summer vacation.  

Tarpat Checkpoint– A few people are sent back to be checked again.

At Tel Romeida there is one soldier who returns our greeting. 

We bought pita bread, coffee, and labaneh and went through the Tarkomia Checkpoint without any problems. This was a quiet day.

Guests: Orit and Ronit .

Translator:  Charles K.

11:30-15:00

Route 35

 heavy traffic, many trucks.

Entering Kiryat Arba goes very smoothly.

Giv’at Avihai on our right – the same (perhaps they’re not the same) 6-7 mobile homes.

Hebron

To our guests’ “benefit” we went up again (we’d been there a long time ago) to Beit HaMeriva [house of quarrel. tran.] to see what it looks like now -- it, and the checkpoints next to and above it.

Goods are being transferred from a pickup truck to a donkey on the other side.

Curve 160, Pharmacy checkpoint, Shuhadeh Street: a few children and women on the streets – some on foot, some on donkeys, some on bicycles.

Tarpa”t checkpoint – 3 soldiers. Female tourists also cross.

On the way up from Tel Rumeida a group of soldiers erecting a new wire fence, overlooking all of Hebron and its shopping center.

Tel Rumeida checkpoint – 2 soldiers who seem calm, and also tell us it’s quiet here.

At ‘Abed’s (near the Cave of the Patriarchs) – a tour bus, most of the passengers from Canada, accompanied by Z’licha, the Palestinian guide.  It’s interesting to hear her explanation, in fluent English, about the difficult situation here…

After visiting ‘Azam – we’re on our way home, but at the Tarqumiyya crossing we become detainees with no explanation at all.

And when we try to find out what’s going on, and ask to contact Zion or Dudu, who are in charge here – the guy in the inspection booth shuts the window in our face and doesn’t reply.

Only after we protested, two replacements(?) arrived, inspected the contents of the bags of vegetables-pitas-labaneh-coffee we’d bought (maybe some little explosive device is hidden within?), and released us to our way.

It should be noted that this is the second time we’ve been detained here. And we also note that a man wearing a yarmulke who arrived immediately after us was not even asked to show an ID card.

Trans.: Bracha B.A.

We left relatively late today in order to see how life is at a different time of day.

Meitar Crossing

It was good to see that at this hour the crossing was deserted and there were no prisoners' families, only a lot of trucks.

Route 60

The students and workers have already passed through and the road was empty except for an army jeep on its way to Karma.

The balloon is in the air and we hope they are looking for settlers.  Last night there was a clash between the "hilltop boys" and Palestinians in response to Netanyahu's speech.

Hebron

We went to see if "Price Tag" had begun any activities in Beit Hameriva, but the only thing we saw there was a soldier sitting on the roof under camouflage netting who reported that we had passed by. At the store under the house people also tell us that lately there have been no clashes between settlers and Palestinians and that things have been quiet. Each soldier that we pass reports our presence, but no one is being detained and if anyone's documents are checked they are not delayed. Soldiers sit on the roof of the house overlooking the Worshippers' Route in a "straw widow" position, and hopefully they will leave soon.

A soldier from the border patrol at the Pharmacy Checkpoint tells us that the incident last night took place deep within the Jewish quarter and that they had already been evacuated. We were afraid to approach the settlers and sufficed with what the people from TIPH were able to tell us.

 As promised, we went to the Al Fihas School to help organize a field trip to the Biblical Zoo (Jerusalem), but since vacation begins in two weeks' time we decided to postpone the trip until the following school year. We promised the principal that we would accompany the children on the trip and that we would be in contact to help organize it. 

 The graffiti on the walls exemplifies the ugliness of the occupation and is a pathetic expression of what is supposedly love of Hebron.  

 We decided to drive back via Tarquomiya where there is a wonderful mulberry tree that would make our dislike of Hebron a little sweeter.  The berries were still green, but the owner promised us that in two weeks we would be able to come back and enjoy them. At the entrance to Route 35 soldiers are having target practice.  

Tarquomiya Crossing 

Zion's co-manager was standing next to the booth and recognized us. He verifies that there have been no complaints about the checkpoint of late and we told him that we have not heard any complaints on our end either.  It's important for him that we know that they are behaving properly.

Translation: Bracha B.A.

10.30 - 14.30

Tarquomiya Crossing

A worker who comes here each morning from I'dna says that when Tzion and Dudi are here all goes smoothly, but when they are away there are problems. He suggests that a camera be installed to check what is going on. There There are four new buildings and electricity in Givat Avihai and the ruins of the former buildings are nearby. We toured the area and visited Azam's metal shop.

There was no problem entering Kiryat Arba Today.

We continued south along Route 60

Route 60.

The entrance to Bani Naim and the Kvasim (sheep) junction were both open. Some military vehicles were parked on the hill next to the new pillbox.  Children were returning home from school. 

Sansana Crossing

–Two-three busses crossed over, packed with prisoners' families. The entire trip was conducted with the help of our driver Mohammed. 

When we exited through Sansana Crossing we were not only asked to present our documents, but had to pull over and have the vegetables that we bought run through the X-Ray machine. This is the first time we have experienced this in seven years.  We wondered if residents of Kiryat Arba had to undergo the same check, but we didn't receive an answer.