Sansana (Meitar Crossing), South Hebron Hills
The Meitar checkpoint was more than usually pressured with lines of transitees backing up almost to the main road. There were also a considerable number of people trying to enter without a permit. Route 60 was very busy in both directions (Israel/West Bank). We went to visit our acquaintance Azam in the village of Susiya. Just the previous night settlers had thrown an incendiary object – probably a stick or bottle wrapped in a gasoline soaked rag – and burned a hole in Azam’s taboun: a stone-built oven used for baking, roasting etc. The taboun is some distance from Azam’s house but “fortunately” for him the deed was done in the early evening and other people saw the blaze. Even so considerable damage was done and Azam will need to rebuilt the whole thing. Mohammed took photographs which I will try to forward. The incident was not reported to the police since this was deemed a waste of time to do so.
On the previous weekend the villagers had gone to work their agriculture lands at some distance from Susiya when they were attacked by settlers with dogs. Nasser, the representative of the human rights organization B’tselem was bitten in the leg and in the arm. We tried to contact him (he is a resident of the village) but he had gone to Yata the neighbouring town. It is not clear whether he lodged a complaint with the police.
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
See all reports for this place-
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
MuhammadFeb-24-2026South Hebron Hill, Beit Hagai: Paving an internal security road
-