Hebron
We reached Hebron via Highway 371, which was empty. Spring’s vegetation was newly green and the emerging blossoms displayed an optimism at odds with what we felt in our guts.
Hebron is filled with groups of Golani soldiers arriving in buses and being taken around the city in preparation for relieving Nahal soldiers. A group of officers sits in the park opposite Beit Hadassah, listening to lecture by local settlers. Is there any chance they’ll also hear another side of this complicated story?
No tourists near the Cave of the Patriarchs, but the souvenir shops report they have customers, and tell us horror stories of the Chinese who brought the corona virus.
Shuhadah Street is getting ready for Purim, homemade signs hung on the buildings (photos attached) to make the holiday more joyous. The coffee bar established by the setters, led by Anat Cohen, has become official, with a fashionable sign – Café Anat.
Our circuit went peacefully until we reached the Cave of Patriarchs parking lot. An ambulance with Ofer Ohana passed us; he photographed us and our car. When we reached the gate at the entrance to Kiryat Arba we were denied entry, our IDs were checked and we were detained. It was clear who had instigated the delay, and the relationship between the setters and the army once again reared annoyingly. Eventually the local operations officer, who knows our driver, appeared out of nowhere, and ordered the soldier at the gate to release us, and Zion was finally redeemed.
Hebron
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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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