South Hebron Hill - Difficulties in crossing the Metsadot Yehuda checkpoint
We went to visit the Abu Kbeita brothers’ families. They tell of the aggressive behaviour of the brothers, Bezalel and Yedidya Talia, who live on their farms not far across the road. We have written about them more than once before. The brothers were given army uniforms and weapons and authority. They harass the Palestinians. They enter Palestinian lands with their herds and then call the army and police under false pretences. (The day after our visit, they sent us videos of such an incident).
Instead of food products, we gave them money to buy a washing machine. This is a model that does not exist here. Since Muhammad does not enter Palestinian cities now either, it is not possible to buy for them, so they will buy in their free time. Just think how they live in these shacks in such difficult conditions. Mustafa came from buying 6, 7 jerrycans of water that he bought in Imnaizil. That is what their hands can manage now.
We went to their cousin Mahmud, who lives about 2 km from the brothers. He does not clear the ruins of the house he built for his son about a year ago, and I no longer ask why. Mahmud describes a situation of constant difficulties in their passage through the Metsadot Yehuda checkpoint. Thanks to Attorney Qamar Mishraki, they reached an arrangement where everything they buy in Yatta is scanned at the checkpoint, and then they do not have to coordinate their arrival in advance. But it turns out that there is large furniture or quantities of animal food that cannot be put into the scanning machines, and then they need to know in advance because dogs are required for this, and these are not permanently located and must be brought specifically from the Meitar checkpoint. “Why shouldn’t there be dogs permanently at this checkpoint as well?” That’s it. Because according to the authorities, it is a semi-crossing, meaning one that is intended only for pedestrians. The economic considerations of the occupation authorities are well known. These people are not considered enough and there is no need to take them into account. In practice, goods and various other items also pass through there, and so people arrive at the checkpoint with purchases and then they return them or delay them for hours until the dogs from the Meitar checkpoint arrive.
“Why don’t we get the same conditions as those who pass through the Meitar checkpoint?” they ask. “Why don’t we have the same equipment here? Why do they make our lives crazy for every item that doesn’t pass the inspection? They constantly make it difficult with the dogs, and force us to break the goods into small quantities. And with the dog, once it gets wet and cold, so you come back when it warms up. They just pester us, for nothing. Even with my daughter who lives in Yatta, they don’t let her visit us. Every month of Ramadan she received permission a week after the holiday, Eid al-Fitr. Why? That’s how
No one cares about respecting our holidays.”
“And my car,” says Mahmud, “even though everyone has insurance and everyone has permission to pass through the checkpoint, no one but me is allowed to drive it. And if I’m sick? Why aren’t my son allowed to drive it despite all the permits?” 3 years ago they were verbally promised that they would be able to drive their father’s car in his place. But words are just words and when they try to drive in my place for shopping and errands, they are turned back.”
“And what about the fence that is between our territories and theirs? We have a permit that they are ours. They made us a gate with a key, and yet, every time we pass, Bezalel Talia calls the army, on the pretext that they are crossing a security fence. The army arrives and sees the permits. The soldiers know that it is ours and yet they are called, arguments and inquiries begin, and in the end they leave. They simply make life difficult in every way. The lawyer is overloaded with work and it takes time to manage to handle and solve all the problems, most of which are unnecessary. There is a feeling that they want to embitter our lives. All these problems are arbitrary”.
Location Description
Beit Yatir / Metsadot Yehudah Checkpoint
See all reports for this place-
An terminal barrier towards Israel on the Separation Barrier (far from the Green Line) near the Beit Yatir settlement. Palestinian passage is prohibited, except for members of the Qabita family living on the western side of the separation fence (which are also not allowed movement in Israel).
-
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
-
ramadin
See all reports for this place-
Ramadin and Arab al-Furijat, were established in the suburbs of Dahariya by Bedouins who came from the Be'er Sheva area after 1948. The village of Ramadin, numbers about 6,000 people, is located on the eastern side of the separation barrier. The checkpoint that was established at the entrance to the village (crossing by list only) to prevent passage to Israeli territory was removed in October 2007, and the road to the Meitar checkpoint leading to Israel is open.
-
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
Michal TsadikJul-25-2025The interior of the burnt house
-
