Hebron, Sansana (Meitar Crossing), South Hebron Hills
Everything flows at the Meitar checkpoint. Four buses with relatives of prisoners on the Palestinian side. The relatives have already left.
Highway 317
Summer has descended everywhere. Yellow and dry as far as the eye can see.
The lovely new expansion of Sham’a, Susya and Carmel is eye-popping.
At Zif junction we met Taysir, a teacher in Tuwani. He brought his daughter’s documents; she wants to enter the doctoral program in mathematics at Ben Gurion University. We’ll pass them on to the appropriate persons and hope for the best.
A second man, who must go to Sha’arey Tzedek hospital for a follow-up, asks for our help because he’s blacklisted by the Shabak (GSS). Sylvia and Chana Barg are telling him what he needs to know. He’ll do what he has to and we’ll try to help him.
The helplessness and dependence of these people on the regime for every step they must take is humiliating and frustrating again and again.
The observation balloon is in the same location above the outpost overlooking the road to Negohot.
The silence of summer vacation envelops Hebron.
The Kfir brigade is now on duty there.
The Hazon David “synagogue” is still in ruins.
Groups of young people from the United States and Canada at the Cave of the Patriarchs. They’re pleased to see our MachsomWatch badges. A few girls happily tell us about a wonderful woman from MachsomWatch they met yesterday; it was extremely interesting. Her name is Rony Perelman.
Many other groups from Israel and abroad. Avner, from Breaking the Silence, also accompanies a group. We’re glad to see one another; he tells them about us and our activities.
It’s quiet at all the checkpoints and roadblocks; no one’s been detained.
I ask ‘Abed, from the souvenir shop, whether shops on Sahala Street, that connects to Shuhadeh Street, will open on Friday as the newspaper reported. “They’re liars; the settlers won’t let them.” I asked him to contact me Friday and let me know what’s happening there, whether the locals will be allowed to resume normal lives and open 150 shops as promised. We’ll see.
Everything’s as usual at Beit Hameriva. A settlement masquerading as an IDF base.
Beit Hamachpela is still deserted.
The new shop, “A warm welcome corner for IDF soldiers,” in Beit Hameriva is open and deserted.
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
Yael ZoranJun-18-2026An ambulance is waiting in front of the closed checkpoint in El-Fawwar
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