Hebron, Sansana (Meitar Crossing), South Hebron Hills
The last laborers collect around some Israeli cars. The parking areas on both sides of the checkpoint are very crowded. On the way we passed Sham’a. An area is being prepared for a new neighborhood (35 dwelling units) which will flow down the hill and adjoin the Palestinian homes.
The lovely, sunny day has brought Palestine’s sheep out to graze. They cover many grazing lands.
At the entrance to Hebron-Kiryat Arba, right above Ja’abri’s home, flies a huge Israeli flag. Beyond, at Giv’at Avihai, a new shed has popped up [Do we smell elections? Or has the spring energized the settlers to carry out a series of provocations? Maybe this time they’ll succeed…].
Farther on we pass Hazon David, a synagogue erected without permission which has recently been transformed from a tent into a large, wide white shed. Beyond, on the Cave of the Patriarchs route, we see an expanded military presence.
We meet with ‘Abed the day after he, his son and his shop opposite the entrance to our Cave of the Patriarchs and their Ibrahim Mosque were victimized. He was hit in the head, the hand and the leg with an iron bar. ‘Abed told us that Baruch Marzel, Itamar Ben Gvir and twenty others attacked him and his son, who was hit in the face, and conducted a pogrom in his shop. An officer who saw the attack later instructed Marzel and the others what to tell the police in order not to incriminate themselves. They, of course, went home for now; nothing happened to them. ‘Abed was angry and humiliated and thinks Marzel wants to “show the flag” before the elections in which he’s a candidate. That’s how he operates. Later we meet Hanna and Shlomit from Jerusalem who came to see for themselves and also try, on behalf of Yesh Din, to offer legal assistance to the father and son. Michal Tzadik told me later that she already spoke to Gaby Lasky about ‘Abed.
And on the deserted Shuhada Street we talk to a group of ecumenicals, to soldiers, to a settler, to a local Red Magen David staffer who told us to “evaporate”…because it’s because of us, the “left,” that there’s terror. We, we leftists, encouraged them to be terrorists. It’s unbelievable, but he remembers “how wonderful and peaceful it was here and in Gaza before the days of Rabin and the left.”
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
Muhammad D.May-13-2026Hebron - Request for compensation for land expropriation
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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
Muhammad D.Sep-8-2026Closed Samu' checkpoint
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