Hebron, Sansana, South Hebron Hills, Wed 11.11.09, Morning
Translator: Charles K.
Sansana
We’re there at 6:40 but see no laborers in the sleeve. On the way back we see two buses carrying relatives of prisoners. Everything is ok this morning.
Route 60
Almost no traffic on the way to Hebron – the National Highway Company is carrying out roadworks, accompanied by security personnel. A police jeep waits below Atni’el to ticket Palestinian vehicles using the road.
Hebron
The pillbox which stood opposite the “Ashmoret Yitzhak” Border Police base, on the way to Giv’at Ha’Harsina, has been removed. Maybe it’s unnecessary, because there’s a checkpoint on the Tzion route in the Kafisha neighborhood.
No detainees on the way to the checkpoints in Hebron.
When we park at the Pharmacy checkpoint we notice a car driving terribly fast by the boys' school. This is the hour when children cross on their way to school – the car goes past three times and A., the school janitor, is very concerned for the children’s safety. It turns out that Anat Cohen is driving – she parks her car right next to our Transit in such a way that we’re unable to open the door and get in. She sits in her car and curses us. A, the school janitor, asks her to be careful of the children, but she replies that they’re disobedient. We refrain from speaking with her, and the soldier who’s there doesn’t intervene.
We decide to leave and she again parks her car right next to us so we can’t get in. We finally are able to drive away; she passes us and drives slowly in front of us – staying very close. Michal almost calls the police when their squad car arrives and stops us. They ask us to avoid a confrontation with her, but detain us. Meanwhile the new Hebron police commander arrives and we introduce ourselves – Anat has already fled.
Since the police commander is new, and since we wanted this time to avoid confrontation in order to have good relations with the police over the long term, we decided to accede to their request, and didn’t continue our shift.
Again it’s been proved that, with hooliganism and force, she manages to pull the wool over the eyes of the police – she got what she wanted.
We left Hebron. The failure of the Israeli police to prevent such violence does not redound to its credit.
On our way back we stop to express our support for a demonstration of local councils from Bedouin localities in the Negev.
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
Muhammad D.Apr-16-2026The entrance to the cave that served as a refuge during the war for the Na'iman family
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