A-Tuwani - list of settler abuses of residents
Wartime routine at Meitar Checkpoint, the carpark as always, nearly empty. The workers are not permitted to work, for over a year, no livelihood, impossible pressure and tensions. How long can they be held like this? Without blowing up…
On our way, the fields are ready to be plowed, this is plowing season. But they are not permitted to plow!
We got to Nasser at A-Tawane, and received a list of the latest events:
At the edge of the village are houses whose owners are not allowed inside, and the soldiers have taken everything away. Why? Because they can.
People plow only the parts of field that are inside the village. With donkeys. So their equipment would not be taken away. As we said, plowing is not permitted!
Near Umm Al Khair, the colonist/soldiers erected a post with a swing, and an Israeli flag.
A week ago, near Rakeez, colonists harmed the fence. Volunteers took pictures, so they ran away.
About a week ago, at Fakhit, people’s tents destroyed. Why? Because the colonists can.
People of the Regavim Association (colonists) entered Azoadin (near the Carmel colony), documented and complained about expansion. Now they will destroy…
Teachers coming to teach park their cars beyond the checkpoints and walk to their work day in the village. Why? Because the army confiscates cars!
We drive out to Road 317. On our way we saw the colonists’ sheep roaming freely. The Palestinians, on the other hand, cannot take their sheep out to graze. Why? Because it can be prevented.
So are the entrances to fields closed from the main road, so people from the villages could not reach them easily and tend them.
Ziv Junction is opened. Pnei Hever, southern entrance is closed. We returned to Road 60 – At Sheep Junction the exit to Yatta is closed, entrance to Hebron Open.
Kilkis Junction – Hebron is closed from all direction. Entrance to Hebron near Beit Haggai has been closed since the outbreak of the war. Dura-Al Fawwar Junction is closed in all directions.
Entrance to Abde is closed, entrance to Dhahariya is closed, entrance to Samu’a is open, but subject to army inspections at the checkpoint.
Closures are numerous, forcing Palestinians to waste time and fuel on driving, making bypasses and detours, for rides that should take minutes.
Ongoing, cruel harassment! Why? Because we can.
Location Description
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
Daphna JungMar-16-2025Simia: Farhan and his wife
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