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Hebron, Sansana, South Hebron Hills, Thu 11.9.08, Morning

Observers: Mira and Ofra
Sep-11-2008
| Morning

Clarification: Due to time differences between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (+1hr. ahead) and our own work obligations, we came early today and didn't get to see the children go to school in Hebron.  

Metar-Sansana CP:
06:15: The parking lot on the Palestinian side is packed and on the Israeli side, workers await their transportation. As we approach the CP we hear one of the checking staff shouting. A man's voice shouts back. From a distance, it is difficult to understand what it's about.The (short) line stops and checking does not proceed on one of the lanes. Most workers move to the other lane. One of the workers leaves the CP and returns a few minutes later, carrying some metal part. He tells us that the checking person didn't understand what this tool is and so, wouldn't allow it in, while the worker shouting back at her is trying to explain that he needs it for his work. A minute later, the problem is resolved, and checking proceeds on both sides of the CP. (Perhaps if the checking person could hear the worker the entire dispute would have been avoided, but through the glass she couldn't hear his explanation.) 

Road 60
:
Again, we see the Egged bus enter the illegal settlement Eshtamo’a. 
On our way back, many pupils and others walk on both sides of the road. 

Dura el Fawar
: Open. On our way back, a jeep is parked next to a water spring. The soldiers are in the jeep, but it seems that no Palestinian will approach it as long as the soldiers are there.  
Abeda: A military jeep with soldiers stands where the IDF has apparently determined to set up a permanent post. Lately, there's a jeep standing here whenever we pass by. The reason for the presence of the soldiers here is unclear. 
The Sheep's Crossing: Open. Pedestrian passage is blocked and they must make a detour across the road. At this time of the year, it adds on only a few tens of meters but in the winter, when it rains, it will already be an entirely different story. 

Road 35:
The new CP is again closed. Blocks scattered on the road prevent passage. A truck gets rather stuck when attempting to back out. Passage was apparently open only very briefly (perhaps only to allow the announcement in the media that the road is open…) The CP closer to the humanitarian CP is open, but a military jeep stands right on the pathway. We try to find out from the two soldiers whether the CP is open, but there's no reply. Theypretend to be sleeping in order not to reply. We are left with our questions unanswered.  

Hebron:
New concrete blockages at point 397.Hadassah House: a sleepy soldier raises his hand for a lift. He wants to go up to Tel Rumeida, but will not do so with traitors. We continue our drive. Next to the stairs of the Kordoba school, a new shaded area was put up, with a command-board next to it and the place looks like a new post. 

Tel Rumeida: On the house at the corner, next to the soldiers' checking point, the number 156 was written and a new star of David was drawn (I think it is new, but I might be wrong).  A first drizzle of children headed towards school (it is still very early and they must have literally fallen out of bed). The bags are obviously checked. And as we are in a hurry, we don't wait for the heavier flow of children.

On our way out of Hebron, we notice that at least 12 new caravillas were positioned in the "Mimra views" neighborhood, behind the front row of houses overlooking the road, and it is therefore difficult to notice them (Kiryat Arba).
We had previously reported on paving works being carried out at this spot. Now it is clear what they meant.

  • 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

      חברון - יוסרי ג'אבר וחלק ממשפחתו
      Raya Yeor
      Dec-18-2025
      Hebron - Yusri Jaber and part of his family
  • 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

    See all reports for this place
    • 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

       

       

      דגלי ישראל חדשים שהונחו לאורך קילומטרים על כביש 317 להוכיח מי הריבון
      Smadar Becker
      Apr-10-2026
      New Israeli flags placed for miles on Highway 317 to prove who is sovereign
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