Hebron, Sansana, South Hebron Hills, Tue 10.11.09, Morning
Translator: Charles K.
Sansana-Meitar crossing
06:40 A few laborers at the Sansana checkpoint; most have already gone through on their way to work in Israel.
Route 60
Groups of children walking along Route 60 on their long way to school. Rain begins; we’re in the heated transit and they’re exposed to the rain and the danger from traffic on the road, or slogging through the mud on the shoulder.
I haven’t done my weekly shift for over a month, and it suddenly all looks different and impossible. My heart fell, just as it did the first time. At the Carmel settlement, for example, new buildings had sprung up, spilling down the hillsides. A synagogue, whose construction had for a long time not advanced, making me think, for some reason, that this monster had been stopped in its tracks, now dominates the winding road below like a fortress, the building completed, covered in yellow stucco, roofed in red, artistically curved tiles, with a profusion of huge windows.
Many more “Hish’til” greenhouses at Susia, now reaching the road.
The beginnings of massive construction at the entrance to Hebron. This irregularity suddenly jumps out at you. When the hell did all this happen?
Hebron
At the Pharmacy checkpoint, in pouring rain, a soldier stops a boy on his way to school: the magnemometer beeps as the boy goes through. The boy is wet and irritated, sits on the curb with the soldier standing over him. He refuses to open his briefcase for inspection. The soldier insists and the boy still refuses. Finally, after we intercede, the boy changes his mind, the briefcase opens and reveals “the ultimate weapon”: a metal ruler!! The suspicious ruler is immediately confiscated. After a minute or two the soldier realizes how ridiculous that is and returns it, and yells at us not to interfere any more, to move back, and that we’re allowed only to watch in silence.
Two new barriers have been erected, on either side of the plaza in front of the Cave of the Patriarchs; they’re said to be temporary, while repairs are underway in the plaza. We’ll follow up on that.
Near the Tarqumiya crossing we turn left and see a double guard force: the IDF and the Palestinian Authority.
On the way back
Next to the settlement of Imanu’el, the police stopped us for inspection, and again at the Sansana crossing where we were told to move into the inspection area, but were then sent on our way.
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
MuhammadFeb-24-2026South Hebron Hill, Beit Hagai: Paving an internal security road
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