Hebron, Sansana (Meitar Crossing), South Hebron Hills, Mon 30.7.12, Morning
9:30-13:00
Sansana checkpoint – given the late hour we arrived, there was no traffic at the checkpoint. The number of cars in the parking lot was fewer than usual – perhaps because of Ramadan. August and the heat may also have reduced the number of people crossing. Expansion work is being carried out by a flotilla of trucks.
A new army observation post has been built on the road that leads to Ramadin and Dhahiriya. The soldiers were checking the papers of a Palestinian car – the young bearded driver was sitting on th car and waiting for the soldiers to finish their checking.
The new observation tower . A short film by Naama can be found at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo6vqF6t1oQ&feature=youtu.be
On Road 60 near the village of Kliklis, we saw 3 soldiers who had stopped a Palestinian vehicle. The soldiers explained to us that they stopped the driver at the request of the Israeli police and were waiting for them to arrive. The soldiers were not forthcoming with additional facts so it was left to us to speculate. All in all, their behavior was courteous. We wondered why the army brings the police only for the Palestinians and not against the settlers…..
To our surprise the Palestinian was free do go after a short examination by the police. We also continued on our way.
On the blocked road across from Beni-Naim, we discerned a large number of soldiers from the Border Patrol and several civilian vehicles. It turns out that once again they were taking action against “water theft”.
Mekorot, the water authority, claims that the Palestinians steal water. Ironically, they employ Palestinian youths to pull up the water pipes and put them on trucks – all this accompanied by the police, the army, the border patrol ….. we don’t understand why it was necessary to undertake this action during Ramadan and to have a big command car that is used to transport prisoners waiting on the road. The entire operation was done without the presence of any Palestinians.
A short film by Naama can be found at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKReBiPdVvg&feature=channel&list=UL
Hebron
Because of the heat, the streets were desolate with very little traffic. On the road above Tel Rumeida do we notice a car with Palestinian plates. We were very surprised – what is this car doing in the heart of the apartheid zone? It turns out that if the city of Hebron wants to renovate or repair something in area 2H, they need to coordinate it with the Israeli Civil Authority so what we saw was a work meeting. The planned renovations are for the clinic above the Habad cemetery in Tel Rumeida.
We ended our shift at the carpentry shop of Azam. From there we headed home.
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
Smadar BeckerJan-12-2026A herd of cows in the area of Zanuta, from which its residents were expelled, accompanied by a settler on horseback
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