Hebron - visiting Issa 'Amro
The purpose of this shift was to visit Issa ‘Amro the day after he had been beaten, humiliated and detained by an IDF soldier. He said on the phone he was very pleased we had come and that he was resting and recovering.
On our way there we saw the masses of posters pasted everywhere in Hebron stressing the importance of the town and of the purchase of more and more buildings to expand the Jewish settlement (see photos). We also saw many employees of the municipality’s electric utility, well-equipped with helmets, vests and everything necessary. In response to my question, Samih pointed to the rooftops where eleven buildings had photoelectric solar panels installed, with the assistance and financing of a Spanish organization, which were now being connected to the grid to generate electricity.
Our friend Samih agreed to accompany us to Issa’s home. Be careful, he said, there’s a route on Tel Rumeida that goes past settlers which you shouldn’t take.
“Then show me how to get there.”
Together we walked along the route familiar to us from our visits to Michael, the son of our friend Tzippi Zhakovisky, who lived for some years next to Issa and taught the women English and involved the neighborhood children in community television, through the archaeological park and the ancient olive trees. Issa recounted the incident, which we’d seen in video clips (I sent them separately to everyone; Nurit Popper edited them into a single video), and sent his thanks and love to all, especially Hagit Back (the video will be attached). Issa is a particularly brave person, and has been struggling non-violently in his own way for years, and has paid a considerable price in attacks and detentions.
This time, because there were foreign journalists and photographers, the other soldiers had moved the attacker away and concluded the incident quickly.
On our way back, at the entrance to Bani Na’im, the checkpoint had been closed, soldiers stationed behind the concrete barrier, weapons drawn. From the road we could see clearly how the settlements of Mizpe Asahel and Mizpe Aviga’il are expanding with more and more construction – actual buildings, not trailers.
Hebron
See all reports for this place-
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:
- Bet Hameriva CP- manned with a pillbox
- Kapisha quarter CP (the northern side of Zion axis) - manned with a pillbox
- The 160 turn CP (the southern side of Zion axis) - manned with a pillbox
- Avraham Avinu quarter - watch station
- The pharmacy CP - checking inside a caravan with a magnometer
- Tarpat (1929) CP - checking inside a caravan with a magnometer
- Tel Rumeida CP - guarding station
- Beit Hadassah CP - guarding station
Three checkpoints around the Tomb of the Patriarchs
Raya YeorDec-18-2025Hebron - Yusri Jaber and part of his family
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