Hebron, Sansana, South Hebron Hills, Thu 23.7.09, Morning
Sansana:
7:30am, families on their way to visits prisoners in Israeli prisons. The checking lane is packed with people, but it seems they walk through quickly. Food vendors on the Palestinian side claim that there are no problems at the CP.
Road 60
Samo'a: open.
Dahariya: open.
Dura Alfawwar: open.
Sheep Junction: open.
Hebron
Curve 160 CP: no soldiers and pillbox, locked.
Pharmacy CP: empty.
Tarpat CP: empty.
Tel Rumeida CP: empty.
Patriarchs' Tombs Cave CP: empty, apart from a group of tourists coming to see the cave.
Next to Hadassa House: big posters were put up, relating the story of the 1929 riots.
South Hebron Mount
Ziff Junction: a new sign post announces entry to A zone.
Several hundred meters past the Ziff junction, we encounter an improvised checkpoint. We, of course, are allowed through very quickly, but we then noticed a few Palestinian detainees. We therefore decided to stop on the sideway, finding ourselves parked right next to a group of settlers, standing about 50m away from the CP, next to the military stronghold. We split: I went to the CP to find out how the detainees were doing, while Zipi remained next to the settlers, listening.
At the CP, I talked to a detainee who told me he was there for over an hour already, without knowing why. Then suddenly, lo and behold, barely twenty seconds past my arrival there, he was released.
At the same time, Zipi, who was listening to the settlers (besides one of them, who chased me to the CP, shouting at me not to interfere with the soldiers work, and adding the standard: "how come all the leftists (women) are ugly?"), heard them talking of lands, and pointing in the direction of one of the hills. A woman from among them mentioned how important it is to ensure that the lands don't belong to anyone, to avoid trouble.
This is where one should mention that the entire South Hebron area is awash with posters and signposts crying out "End to the White book!"; "11 new settlement points in Judea and Samaria", and relating a story about how, sixty three years ago, a pioneer spirit has entered the people, following which, over a single night, 11 new settlements were put up in the Negev. It was further said there that, "now as then", on Monday and Tuesday (or perhaps it is the night in-between) 11 new strongholds will be put up. By the way, those strongholds already have names, and their location is clearly marked on maps (see attached photo of a signpost).
At this point, the settler who chased me, turned to one of the soldiers, explaining that they've been waiting for an hour already and so, ought to turn to organize the 'event' already. The soldiers immediately dismantled the CP[!!], while the settler scolded Zipi and me, claiming that our children do not fulfill their reserve duty[…].
Once the soldiers finished taking the CP down, they joined the settlers and all entered the military stronghold. We could hear some of their talk, concerning where the people will be on the day of the event. They claimed that about 2000 people are expected. It is true that this is our own interpretation of that talk, but it seems as if there were talking about military security-coverage for those new, illegal settlements next week.
By the way, in the South Hebron Mount area, there are also other posters, warning the settlers against an approaching evacuation, and advising as to who should be contacted when and if evacuation seems imminent.
Towards the end of our shift, we dropped in, for a visit at the Sousiah summer program. The children welcomed us with a greeting and recited a passage on coexistence… a small island of sanity within this hell…
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
Raya YeorDec-18-2025Hebron - Yusri Jaber and part of his family
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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
Smadar BeckerApr-10-2026New Israeli flags placed for miles on Highway 317 to prove who is sovereign
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