Hebron, Sansana (Meitar Crossing), South Hebron Hills
Meitar checkpoint – When we cross all the workers are going through and the parking lot is full. Seven thousand crossed this morning – like on a Sunday, because of the holiday. When we return they’re planning how the checkpoint will operate on Yom Kippur – it will be open for the benefit of the non-Jewish residents of the area.
We witnessed two incidents today.
The large village of Dir’at is located on Highway 356, on both sides of the road. According to the still-valid Oslo Agreements the village is in Area C. Today the Civil Administration issued two demolition orders covering 5-10 structures. There’s no approved master plan for the area, nor any planning whatsoever… The regime’s obligation to the residents is expressed only through demolition orders.
In Hebron we saw international peace activists, four female settlers, Palestinians with cameras and TIPH police gathered beside the large parking lot at the Cave of the Patriarchs.
Here’s what happened:
Soldiers came to the home of the Abu Rajeb Tamimi family, who live next to Beit Hamachpelah, and told them that on September 22, Yom Kippur eve, they intend to take over the family’s shop and turn it into a command center during Yom Kippur and Succot. The family signed a form indicating its objection and the army threatened the family that if it complains to the police their entry permits to Israel will be confiscated.
This morning wives of settlers entered the shop through an adjoining gate that was open (right next to the Al Fahia girls’ school, for those familiar with the area). When family members arrived the son and mother were attacked.
The female settlers stayed for a while and continued photographing. We took the youth who’d been attacked and his mother to file a complaint with the police. We took them because if one goes to the Giv’at Ha’avot police station through the Jewish side complaints are dealt with much, much faster.
When we returned home we received a phone call telling us they’d finished submitting the complaint, the police took the mother and son back home and received documentation for the complaint.
We ourselves didn’t witness the attack. Those who had seen it said that Anat Cohen was one of the women involved.
On our way home we saw sea squills and bought figs and Hebron grapes (which don’t sweeten the occupation).
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
Leah ShakdielApr-8-2025Hebron: A sign advertising a tempting real estate
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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 ZoranMay-22-2025The bumpy road to Ata's house
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