Sansana (Meitar Crossing), South Hebron Hills
Meitar Checkpoint: Despite the relatively late hour (09.30) many people remained on the Israeli side, waiting for employers probably: There is now nuch demand for pickers and there many looking for the occasional job for pickers and those looking for the occasional job.
Highway 60 is quite lively, all the checkpoints are already open at such an hour except the Sheep Junction, where an army jeep is already standing and checking cars. Muhammad reports that the army was also there for hours In the early morning but no arrests or special delays.
We went to visit our friend Atta Jaber, a man who has had many years of trouble: Destruction of his fields two years ago carried out by the Civil Administration, allegedly due to his theft of water. Atta lives on the east side of Highway 60 that crossed the family’s land, this time we sat with Atta’s brother on the west side of the road, just below Kiryat Arba. Atta and his brother talked about their hardships with the authorities, about the ownership of the land and the lack of ability to work and build in them. For years, they were harassed in the courts and eventually left, in the end, with the little land that they are now working and building on. And meanwhile, a quiet time for them …. But there’s always the fear that the Civil Administration will come again and to destroyed and demolish.
We returned via Route 317 with no unusual events. All along the settlements are in bloom and opposite Carmel, the forest grows, inviting holidaymakers to visit and enjoy, in Hebrew only of course. In some of the road signs that appear in Arabic and English, Arabic has been erased with black spray.
Meitar checkpoint / Sansana
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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
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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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