Hebron, Sansana (Meitar Crossing), South Hebron Hills, Mon 11.6.12, Morning
Translated by Charles K.
The Meitar crossing is already empty. Four buses that carried relatives of prisoners parked on the Palestinian side of the checkpoint. The relatives are no longer on the Israeli side. They’ve already driven away.
How well-kept everything here is; a gardener waters new landscaping opposite the guard station. They’ve tried to make the surroundings pleasant.
If only what goes on here was consistent with outward appearances. If only this turned into a border crossing between states. If only…
Five minutes away, as we drove on Route 317 to Sussiya, signs posted all along the way, reading: Israeli sovereignty over all of Judea and Samaria. Blue on white. New buildings under construction at Teneh Omerim on the hill to our left.
These are two proofs of the settlers’ true intentions, and of the government which is implementing them: The state of Israel will be a repressive state which believes it is possible to continue eternally crushing a million people under its boots. The “leaders” who are bringing the Zionist project to a close.
We passed next to Carmel and Ma’on; everything is quiet.
We didn’t know that, only two hours later, we’d be told about more vandalism carried out by the settlers from the Ma’on farm.
Again they uprooted olive trees, again they abused the residents of the nearby Khirbet Tawani. They believe that’s how they should behave.
Hebron
The entry road to Kiryat Arba, and from there to Hebron, is still being upgraded. They’ve opened the southern gate which is usually shut and guarded.
Soldiers and Border Police everywhere, as usual, including on the roof of the building overlooking the worshippers route.
The residents of the neighborhood around the Cave of the Patriarchs are renovating their homes, as if according to the verse “But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew” (Exodus 1:12). Despite everything, their spirit hasn’t been broken. A small consolation.
A protest tent on the Cave of the Patriarchs plaza, a woman taking her turn there with her children, as usual, and buses with Israeli visitors. All go to the Jewish side of the Cave of the Patriarchs.
No detainees anywhere, not at any of the checkpoints or the roadblocks nor along the apartheid road leading to Shuhadeh Street. Many children in the streets; summer vacation must have begun.
The main activity on this road involves a special large crane removing Israeli flags that were hung two months ago for Independence Day. Finally.
On our way back we spoke by phone with a man who wanted us to help him obtain an entry permit so he could work his olive grove. The grove is on one side of the fence; his village is on the other. We consulted with Chana Barg and referred him to her. Maybe.
Later we met two more people: The first, to follow up on our attempts to help him obtain again the work permit for Israel that had been withdrawn suddenly for an absurd reason. Sylvia and Chana will tell us how to help him. Meanwhile he has to wait because the computers are being upgraded. We’ll see how long it will take these experts in attrition to implement the upgrade. A second man, also blacklisted for many years with no reason or explanation, asks why he hasn’t received any answer for months. Sylvia explains that his request was delayed because…they upgraded the procedures. Now, after the upgrade, they’ve begun dealing with his request. Now he’ll wait two months for any answer.
That’s the dream of Greater Israel. The nightmare of the lords of the land oppressing a million people forever.
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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