Hebron, Sansana, South Hebron Hills, Sun 29.6.08, Morning
guests: Dana and Doron
06:30 – 10:30
Meitar-Sansana CP
We arrived at 06:45. There were no lines of workers on the Palestinian side. At the Israeli side, the Palestinians greeted us and were pleased to inform that since two more posts had been opened, the passage is smooth. Shlomi, the efficient manager of the CP told us that on Sundays some 1200 people cross without difficulty, as we have witnessed and the people confirmed.
This was the good part of our shift.
Road 60
As our driver remarked, most of the main roads to the towns along the road are blocked, like: Dahriyya, Samoa, and Dir-Razek. Dirt mounds and concrete blocks and boulders still disrupt the normal “fabric of life”.
At Shiuch junction a BP jeep parked but there were no detainees. A passer-by told us that youngsters are often detained for hours at the junction.
Hebron
We arrived after eight o’clock. Apart from heavy military presence at every corner and turn, the place looked almost deserted. Up at Tel-Rumeida, a nervous soldier called his superiors to ask what to do with those machsom-watch intruders, and a settler seemed to reprimand him for not stopping us by all means. Down, passing along the Shuhada street, as we were conversing with a resident, who cleans the entrance to his home, here the hooligan, Ofer, “accompanies” us with his foul language: “Rabin gave them weapons and look, with god’s help, he is in his grave. In short time you will follow him”. Soon a mob gathers around us and the police arrived, demanding from us our Ids. Instead of protecting us, he is anxious to pacify the settlers. As we left, I thought of the courage the Palestinian resident showed, by carrying out simple functions as keeping clean the entrance to his home in these violent circumstances.
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
Michal TsadikJun-29-2008Hebron - Ata's grandchildren are enjoying the umbrellas we brought
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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
Daphna JungMar-16-2025Simia: Farhan and his wife
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