Hebron
What did we see today? Today the Palestinian Authority is celebrating Muhammad’s birthday – which didn’t stop the army from deciding it was just the day to conduct a large exercise in Hebron.
Masses of soldiers everywhere.
The Abed Karim family plows with a donkey its land next to the “Hazzon David” synagogue, the illegal outpost below Giv’at Ha’avot. Tractors aren’t allowed in Area H2, and if they don’t continually prove they own the land it also will be taken from them.
The Tel Rumeida archaeological dig progresses under the noses of the Abu Ayyash and Abu Heikhal families; it continues to interfere and frighten them. Four Border Police soldiers protect the excavators; it doesn’t occur to them they’re like a bone in the Palestinians’ throats. We give Abu Ayyash and a friend of his a ride down from Tel Rumeida to the checkpoint. “Why aren’t any of our taxis here?,” he asks. “It’s one thing going downhill, but the climb back up is really hard for me…” That’s how it is for an elderly man like him. He tells us he was born next to Beit Hadassah and his parents saved Jews during the 1929 riots. Why do I deserve this?, he asks M., our driver, and us. I have no answer.
Otherwise, Hebron was quiet today.
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
Yael ZoranSep-24-2026Hebron and the Cave of the Patriarchs from Beit Hashalom
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