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Sansana (Meitar Crossing), South Hebron Hills

Observers: Nina, Hagit S.S (reporting); Translator: Charles K.
Mar-05-2015
| Morning

Meitar crossing, on our way to the southern Hebron hills.

Susya:  A conversation with the ‘Azzam family – mother and daughter (who made us herbal tea – “it’s healthier,” she said).

Meanwhile, Yasser also arrived.  He says he has an idea – to organize a joint visit of Machsom Watch and village women to the Susiya antiquities site.  It’s allowed, and it’s possible.  He went there recently with his son.

We said we would be happy to participate and he promised to let us know a few days in advance.

 

We drove to at-Tuwani and met the Italian volunteers (Operazione Columba).  Fadi-Federico, from Venice, tells us, in a long, interesting conversation, about their important activities here – protecting the children on their way to school and back from settlers who harass them, especially when the army doesn’t arrive on time…

Also the shepherds who are harassed, expelled etc.

We’re amazed at their volunteering, given the difficult conditions in which they live here.  We left when they went to escort the children.

Nasser, a local resident, stops us as we leave the village and asks for help with traffic tickets the police “distribute” with no justification – for putative “violations,” for which they’re made to pay NIS 1000 fines.

 

Large signs along the way:  “Only Marzel.”

 

We visit Fadel in Umm Faqra.  He went to the fields with his donkey to collect tumble-thistles to sell because he’s not working now even though he has an entry permit to Israel.  We have to find an Israeli building contractor for him. 

We brought “Purim candies” to his lovely children. 

  • Meitar checkpoint / Sansana

    See all reports for this place
    • Meitar Checkpoint / Sansana The checkpoint is located on the Green Line and serves as a border crossing between Israel and the West Bank. It is managed by the  Border Crossing Authority of the Defense Ministry. It is comprised of sections for the transfer of goods as well as a vehicle checkpoint (intended for holders of blue identity cards, foreign nationals or diplomats and international organizations). Passing of Palestinians is prohibited, except for those with entry permits to Israel. Palestinians  are permitted to cross on foot only. The crossing  has a DCO / DCL / DCL / DCL (District Coordination  Office), a customs unit, supervision, and a police unit. In the last year, a breach has been opened  in the fence, not far from the crossing. This breach is known to all, including the army. There does not appear to be any interest in blocking it, probably as it permits needed Palestinian workers without the bureaucratic permits to get to work in Israel. Food stalls and a parking area economy have been created, but incidents of violent abuse by border police have also been recorded. Updated April 2022
  • South Hebron Hills

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    • South Hebron Hills
      South Hebron Hills is a large area in the West Bank's southern part.
      Yatta is a major city in this area: right in the border zone between the fertile region of Hebron and its surroundings and the desert of the Hebron Hills. Yatta has about 64,000 inhabitants.
      The surrounding villages are called Masafer Yatta (Yatta's daughter villages). Their inhabitants subsist on livestock and agriculture. Agriculture is possible only in small plots, especially near streams. Most of the area consists of rocky terraces.

      Since the beginning of the 1980s, many settlements have been established on the agricultural land cultivated by the Palestinians in the South Hebron Hills region: Carmel, Maon, Susia, Masadot Yehuda, Othniel, and more. Since the settlements were established and Palestinians cultivation areas have been reduced; the residents of the South Hebron Hills have been suffering from harassment by the settlers. Attempts to evict and demolish houses have continued, along with withholding water and electricity. The military and police usually refrain from intervening in violent incidents between settlers and Palestinians do not enforce the law when it comes to the investigation of extensive violent Jewish settlers. The harassment in the South Hebron Hills includes attacking and attempting to burn residential tents, harassing dogs, harming herds, and preventing access to pastures. 

      There are several checkpoints in the South Hebron Hills, on Routes 317 and 60. In most of them, no military presence is apparent, but rather an array of pillboxes monitor the villages. Roadblocks are frequently set up according to the settlers and the army's needs. These are located at the Zif Junction, the Dura-al Fawwar crossing, and the Sheep Junction at the southern entrance to Hebron.

      Updated April 2022

       

       

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