Hebron, Sansana (Meitar Crossing), South Hebron Hills, Zif Junction
We chose to leave at a late morning hour because this is the first week of Ramadan and people get up late.
10:00 a.m. at Sansana Checkpoint compound, the parking lot is packed full. Workers have long gone over into Israel.
First we follow our Bezal'el guests' request, to photograph public buildings at Zif village. On our way we passed Susya and Carmel, and in both settlements we saw new neighborhoods ready to be inhabited.
After fulfilling our mission in the village, we visited the kindergarten across the road. The teacher took it upon herself to create a most impressive kindergarten. She took a personal loan from the bank, a considerable sum that she is committed to pay back within the coming decade. The kindergarten has a large yard with swings and a slide. The yard floor is padded with rubber tiles. There is also special access for wheels – the teacher explained that some of the children are disabled. She plans to add special bathrooms for them in addition to the ones she has already installed. The kindergarten itself consists of two colorful rooms that still need more equipment for children, especially games. We promised ourselves to visit again and try to be of more help.
At the entrance to Kiryat Arba settlement we noticed that the shack still stands in place, on top of Avichai outpost. In what the settlers call Chazon David synagogue, upon Palestinian-owned land, where the settlers' structure was put up and demolished a few weeks ago following a High Court ruling, a kind of plastic tent has been erected, with a table and several stools. Apparently the settlers are back in place.
We introduced our guests to the anomaly of Hebron: We took them to see the "house of peace/contention", the Prayers' Route (an army vehicle was in place), 160 Curve, and the "Policeman's Barrier" that enable only pedestrian crossing, without consideration for the needs of Palestinians living within the enclave controlled by the Israeli army and the settlers. We walked with our guests along deserted Shuhada Street and they took more and more photos.
On our way back, along road 60 at noon, we saw very little army presence.
Crossing Sansana Checkpoint back into Israel around 14:30, we saw workers on their way back from work.
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.Jun-7-2026A stone placed by settlers on the road leading to the Thiel family's territory in Rahwa
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Zif Junction
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Zif Junction located on the crossroads that directs towards Road 356 to Yata. Yata is the district city of the southern Hebron Mountains. Usually, this junction is open to traffic. The nearby pillbox is unmanned. But the army and police are present occasionally, sometimes setting up a checkpoint and sometimes detaining residents from the big city. Often, the Israeli policemen inspect vehicles and distribute driving reports to Palestinian vehicles. s
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