Hebron, Sansana (Meitar Crossing), South Hebron Hills
09:00-14:00
Crossings
The parking lot at the Meitar crossing is packed – back to normal until the next holiday.
Although no cars are going through the Metzudat Yehuda crossing – just us – the guard still holds his weapon at a 90 degree angle from his body. I hate weapons.
Highway 317
A banner at Susya reads “Terrorists are being freed, terror is having a field day, but Bogie fights Jews.” It’s funded by an organization called Derekh Ha’im.
Below the Carmel settlement we see a squad of four soldiers who were called by a settler to expel Suleiman, from Umm al Kheir, who’s grazing his flocks. The excuse: there’s a new list of areas permitted for grazing and he’s on privately-owned land belonging to the Carmel settlement. The soldier starts preaching morality to us – traitors, why aren’t we with our grandchildren – the squad commander is the only one allowed to speak, imposes silence on his subordinates. The settler drives past on a tractor. Spits and curses at us. We phone Ezra…he’s more familiar with the details. We drive away as Suleiman tries to find another location. Our hearts are heavy. The Palestinian farmers don’t allow him to graze near their lands either. In 1948 he was expelled from land near Tel Arad and bought the land he owns today for 100 camels. But nobody recognizes his ownership. A sad, unjust story.
Hebron looks deserted. The excavation at Tel Rumeida continues. A., from B’Tselem, and peace activists tell us this Passover was relatively peaceful compared to prior years.
Here’s the banner hung at Beit HaMeriva in honor of the holiday: “Celebrating freedom/On the way to redemption: A new exhibit at Beit HaShalom near the Cave of the Patriarchs”
Hebron’s streets and all the highways are festooned with Israeli flags.
That’s what occupiers do.
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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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
MuhammadFeb-24-2026South Hebron Hill, Beit Hagai: Paving an internal security road
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