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Hebron, Sansana, South Hebron Hills, Tue 2.2.10, Morning

Observers: Tamar G., Michal T. (report)
Feb-02-2010
| Morning

Translated by Bracha B.A.
Sansana CP
It is very crowded next to the x-ray machine. The women inspectors are shouting and there are angry responses from those checked. Fortunately, the last of them has finally gone through. Outside families on prisons' visits are waiting. There are dozens of people this time of all ages.
Route 60
It is quiet. The almond trees are in full blossom and the hills are green. Palestinians, mostly women and children, walk on the side of the road despite the danger of being hit by cars.
Dura Alfawwar 
The soldiers left the pillbox again and are manning the position on the road. Traffic flows.
Hebron
Kiryat Arba: The guard from the Modi'in Ezrachi Co. at the entrance to Kiryat Arba will not let us in. According to M., our driver, this is not the first time this guard has done this.  After waiting and the guard claiming that he is waiting for someone, we decided to leave and avoid the unnecessary wait. Palestinian children have already returned to school, and when we arrive school is in session.
Curve 160: There is an increased presence of Border Police soldiers, and no detainees.
Tarpat Checkpoint and Tel Romeida: all as usual, no detainees.
The Palestinian entrance to the Cave of the Patriarchs has been renovated and the Border Police position there is new and less threatening – the aesthetics of the occupation. Two Norwegian representatives of TIPH say that everything is as usual, but don't elaborate.
The roadblocks at the Shiyuch Junction and Beit Anoun are in place.
Route 35
The Humanitarian Crossing: The gate is closed by soldiers who detain cars to be checked.
The Olive Crossing: the crossing is open and traffic flows.  A red sign warns people that the road enters Zone A.
Routes 356 and 317
We returned via these roads in order to pay a visit at the Hirbet Tuwani school. We were received warmly there by staff and teachers who were on recess. They took chairs outside in the sun and served tea. We ask about the problems caused by the delay of the army escort to the school to protect the students from being harassed by settlers from Maon who attack them and Havat aon. The principal explains that he disregards students' being late by 10-15 minutes, but specifies some dates on which tardiness was excessive: Tuesday, October 26, 2009, Wednesday, December 30, 2009, and Sunday, January 10th, 2010. He explained that the children are to school late because they are afraid of the settlers and so, they hide, and when the escort finally arrives the soldiers cannot track them.  

  • 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

       

       

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