At-Tuwani, Sansana (Meitar Crossing), South Hebron Hills
The breach in the fence near the Meitar checkpoint has been repaired in a very sloppy manner. People say that there are lots of soldiers around. We did not see them, they are probably ambushing somewhere.
We drove in the direction of Umm Faqara because there are always clashes between the settlers of the settlement of Mitzpe Abigail and the people of Umm Faqara, Shahab al-Butom and Khirbet Fursa. These are small settlements scattered between Umm Faqara and Maon Farm. To our surprise, the road to Umm Faqara was blocked a few days ago with concrete blocks.
In the fields in the are there were villagers reaping the harvest. Manual harvest! And Semadar, Muhammad and I also joined. There were 3 young Jewish men who have been in the areas lately and accompany the Palestinians of the area, including Rakiz and A-Tuwani. They try to help in every way. They are leaving in the next few days. It was exciting and pleasant to see and hear them. Nasser Adara told us about them two weeks ago, how much these young men encourage them and help them to feel that they are not alone in front of the army and the settlers.
It is impossible not to resonate at the top of the verses from the Book of Ruth when one sees this imaginary pastoral.
We continued to A-Tuwani through Rakiz.
On the road between the two settlements, the village council put up a large sign with a picture of Harun Abu ‘Aram and named this road after him. He himself, as we remember, lies paralyzed since the generator incident.
Meanwhile, Erela and Ehud from the Group of Villages managed, with the help of donors, to transfer him to rehabilitation in “Reut” in Tel Aviv. The Palestinian Authority and the State of Israel are waging their terrible power struggles on the broken back of this young man. The PA is interested in perpetuating his condition and Israel, as usual, refuses to take responsibility for the criminal behavior of its soldiers.
A-Tuwani:
On a daily basis, the settlers of Maon Farm harass the residents here, and the IDF finds reasons to throw gas grenades and arrest someone every time. David and Goliath the other way around from which we knew it.
We met Fuad with a worried face. He was happy to see that our unfamiliar vehicle (this time) was inhabited by us and not settlers or security forces. They followed us with concern.
It turns out that they are on guard day and night because of the conduct of the occupying forces lately. He says that yesterday two people of the village were arrested and also on Saturday, claiming that they threw stones, or had said something to the soldiers.
The detainees are always released after a few hours because there are no justifiable reasons for these arrests, but to scare and make life difficult and to be shouted at all the time by the settlers “This is not your country, not your land, go away”.
This is important. Very evil spirits are blowing all over this area with authority and with permission.
Report on the deeds of the last few days: 4 days ago, on Saturday, 22.5, the settlers set a field on fire , between them and Khalat al-Diba. On Tuesday, on Sunday, 2 Border Police vehicles, 3 IDF vehicles, police, many soldiers and a JSM entered from the direction of Umm Pakra, and surrounded the settlement for a few hours. It is not clear to them why
Yesterday, Monday, May 24, a settler came down from Maon Farm, reached Jumaa’s house at the end of the village, and picked up a skimmer.
The police were then called on the pretext that he (the settler) had been attacked. The IDF arrived and turned the area into a closed military for two hours, three were arrested: Fadel, and his sons – Osama, and Bilal, on the pretext of throwing stones.
This is a routine report – it happens there all the time, on a daily basis: a “life” routine in A-Tuwani.
A-Tuwani
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A-Tuwani
The locals came to a-Tuwani during the 20th century from the village of Yatta. They settled in abandoned ruins, utilizing the arable land, pastures for grazing sheep and the abundance of natural caves for habitation. The residents who settled in the caves came from families who could not purchase land for houses in the mother villages, as well as shepherds who did not have enough land to graze. They were joined by clan members who quarreled with other families in the mother locality.
Some of the residents today live in concrete buildings built above the caves. In the area of the village are several water cisterns and an ancient water well called 'Ein a-Tuwani. Local residents are forced to buy water in containers and transport them through many road blocks to the village. With the help of international organizations, an electrical system was installed in the village. In the late 90s of the 20tTh century, an elementary school was established in the serving several small villages in the area.
In 2004, MachsomWatch began visiting and reporting from the Khirbet Tuwani cave village, which suffers badly from the settlers of nearby outposts, and especially from the extremist Ma'on outpost. . The settlers contaminate cisterns, poison the flocks and uproot trees.Particularly notable is the harassment of children from the surrounding villages on their way to school in a-Tuwani, so much so that military escort of children is required to separate them from the attackers (this was arranged following an initiative of the organization's members). In the past year, the escort has been without the vital presence of overseas volunteers.
Near a-Tuwani there are several families who have returned to the caves due to the incessant demolitions of the civil administration (as there is a total construction ban in all of area C). Destroyed are not only residential and agricultural buildings, but also water pipes, machinery. Even water cisterns are clogged up. a-Tuwani residents have created an association for non-violent demolition protests, but in the past year the army’s harsh harassment and settler violence have intensified and escalated. The incident of the small generator confiscation, which left a young man paralyzed, is one of many examples - any legitimate protection of property rights leads to violence and even shootings by the army and the civil administration.
Updated April 2022
Michal TsadikJan-29-2026Umm al-Khair - a security risk for Carmel settlers
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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
Michal TsadikJan-29-2026Umm al-Khair - a security risk for Carmel settlers
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