Hebron, Sansana, South Hebron Hills, Thu 22.5.08, Morning
6:30-9:30
Sansana – Meitar CP
Dozens of workers and cars on the Israeli side. Inside the sleeve there are more workers, though relatively few. The movement slow.
On the Palestinian side there are several changes: the fence which a created a long crowded line has been moved, and the infrastructure has been changed so the workers will not be so crowded. Near the first carousel there is a new concertina (barbed wire rolls), don't understand why. The Palestinian side is very dirty, lots of trash thrown about, no disposal bins or a dumpster. The lavatories are emptied by a truck.
Route 60
All the roadblocks are in place. The sheep's crossing (Yatta-Hebron) – the checkpiount has been opened to traffic which flows back and forth. There is another gate for pedestrians, and it's closed. It's easy to cross, but why is it closed? In the entrance to Yatta there is a new sign warning that this is the "A" (PA) area.
Bani Naim – west: regular army soldiers are standing at checkpoint and checking all wanting to cross.
Bani Naim – east: the 3 sides of the road which were blocked by piles of earth have been removed, but now it is blocked by cement blocks and an iron gate. There is no passage for vehicles.
Hebron
crossing #397 – In the CP before the Tomb of the Patriarchs, a soldier is checking the documents of 4 youngsters. When the soldier recognizes us, he leaves the boys.
On the roof of the Disputed house, a shade has been put up to protect the Israeli soldiers on guard there. Bassam in the coffee shop tells us about an incident yesterday in which the settlers living in the disputed house (apparently out of boredom) threw stones at an elderly man who was working his fields.
The police and army did nothing. On the other hand when there was a suspicion that a youngster had a knife, the army went from house to house to look for the knife.
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 TsadikMay-22-2008Hebron - 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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