Hebron, Sansana, South Hebron Hills, Tue 1.6.10, Morning
Translation: Bracha B.A.
06:30-10:00
1. The IDF demonstraties its presence "so that they won't make problems."
2. The security network of Kiryat Arba – a police force within a police force.
3. A historic event: removing the roadblock to Dahariya
Meitar-Sansana:
At 07:00 all the workers are already on the Israeli side, and there are no longer any prisoners' families.
Route 60
The Sheep Junction: Three IDF jeeps are parked at the junction and soldiers stand around. People arrive with sheep. We go up to see why the IDF is here. We are asked to identify ourselves. "What are you doing here?" they ask."We've come to observe. Have you heard of us?"No, they haven't. We ask what they were doing. A sergeant comes up and whispers to them not to talk to us. "They're those leftists." One leaves, the other stays. He explains that there is a sheep market here. "We have to demonstrate our presence. So they won't make any trouble.""Why should they make troubles? It's their routine. Why interfere?"There is no answer.
Hebron
At the entrance to Kiryat Arba the guard stops us and asks us to wait. He claims that this car drove away once when he asked the driver to wait. He now follows orders and takes our IDs. He makes a phone call and asks us to wait until he receives permission to open the gate. I call the police at the Cave of the Patriarchs. He cannot help me and refers me to the Hebron police. They cannot help me either. I call 100 and am told that these people have authority to detain anyone they want. My objections that I am a citizen and can go where I please are to no avail. The guard tells me to be patient and wait. Eventually he will let us through, but he needs to await permission. After 15 minutes we were allowed to enter. The settlement opposite Nofei Mamreh still stands and construction at Nofei Mamere itself continues. Curve 160: There are a lot of military vehicles but no one is detained. Children are on their way to school. It appears that things are normal despite the latest events. At the Pharmacy junction we are met by a police van. They are friendly and only want to know how we are. I tell them about the police in Kiryat Arba and the policeman smiles. "Are you aware that there is a police force within the police force? What would you say if people from Omer prevented residents of Kiryat Arba from entering settlements? Who is in charge of whom? He smiles and asks if things are well with me. I reply that they are, but… hey, aren't you supposed to be protecting citizens' rights?!" I ask."You are supposed to keep an eye on us!" He answers.
Within the city itslef, everything is as usual.
Nachal soldiers are at their positions but do not detain anyone. Anat Cohen passes by in her car but luckily does not harass us. We went to see Osama Abu Sarakh. We were pleased to hear that the people from Yesh Din had contacted him and will be coming to see him. We also saw Atta Jaber, the farmer who is trying to keep his land next to Kiryat Arba. He was also promised a visit from Yesh Din.. On our way back we saw that the road to Dahariya was open. There was a yellow gate in place but we were told that it would remain there only while the road is paved and that, once done, the road will be open completely. We will follow up what is happening there.
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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