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Hebron, Sansana, South Hebron Hills, Sun 14.3.10, Morning

Observers: Leah S., Paula R. (reporting)
Mar-14-2010
| Morning

Guests: Students A, A., and A from the United States
Translation: Bracha B.A.

Sansana Crossing

The crossing is empty.  The Minister of Defense has ordered a three-day closure on the entire West Bank because of the tension in Jerusalem.  This implies a collective punishment for thousands of workers and their families who are already experiencing financial difficulties.  And there will be another closure over the holiday as well. 

Route 60
Traffic along Route 60 is sparse because of the closure.

Hebron
When we arrived the children had already entered the school. We did not see any detainees.  The guests received an explanation about the yellow apartheid strip and its history, about the stairs that the students from the Koldova School avoid using, and the concrete fence near the Border Patrol position at the entrance to the street.
When we reached the Shuhada St. our guests were shocked: "What, Palestinians can only get through using this crossing?" They asked to enter the Patriarchs' Cave since it is a holy place for both religions. (Leah chose not  to enter and remained with Mohammed in the car.) The place was packed with worshippers, including Marzel who told us, "Go over to the Muslim side, that's where you belong."
A. responded by telling him, "I kept the Sabbath yesterday just like you, so don't tell me where to pray. What you are doing is desecration of G-d's Name." He swallowed his tongue. 

We returned by way of A-Tawani. We met with the teacher of the lower grades of the school, which are located in a small building away from the rest of the school. He told us about the soldiers who accompany the students from the village of Tuba to the school in Tawani. I asked, "Aren't they afraid of the soldiers?" "No, they have good relations and know each other. The soldiers protect them against the settlers." Who knows?  Perhaps their relationship will bring about co-existence.

  • Hebron

    See all reports for this place
    • 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:

       

      1. Bet Hameriva CP- manned with a pillbox
      2. Kapisha quarter CP (the northern side of Zion axis) - manned with a pillbox
      3. The 160 turn CP (the southern side of Zion axis) - manned with a pillbox
      4. Avraham Avinu quarter - watch station
      5. The pharmacy CP - checking inside a caravan with a magnometer
      6. Tarpat (1929) CP - checking inside a caravan with a magnometer
      7. Tel Rumeida CP - guarding station
      8. Beit Hadassah CP - guarding station

      Three checkpoints around the Tomb of the Patriarchs

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  • Meitar checkpoint / Sansana

    See all reports for this place
    • 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
  • 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

       

       

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