Hebron, Sansana, South Hebron Hills, Wed 12.11.08, Morning
Sansana-Metar CP 6:45
Although many cars are parked in the parking lot, there are almost no people at the CP itself; it seems that most have already passed through to the Israeli side. On the way to Hebron, CPs are open and there is no military presence.
Hebron 7:30
Pharmacy CP: Empty.
We go up to Tel Rumeida and for the first time since Sukot, are allowed to stay there. At the CP, two soldiers. They don't check the children at all, nor most of the adults. During the time we were there, only two young men were checked. The checks took only a few seconds and were not thorough or humiliating, as we've seen with Golani soldiers in the past.
Two volunteers of the Eucumenical Churches’ association arrive at the CP and, seeing that there are no exceptional cases, leave immediately. The same, with TIF people. They, too, were not allowed access to Tel Rumeida over the past few days. They tell us that only yesterday (Tuesday), they were presented with an edict, prohibiting entry for 48hrs, but today no use was made of it.
On our way back, we see a gathering of children at the Pharmacy CP, and a soldier shouting at them. We try to understand what is going on there, but fail. Some of the children go through the scanner while others are allowed to go through unchecked. We can’t decipher the logic of it. The children keep gathering around the CP and we try to understand why. Suddenly we see a few children circumventing the soldier and running through the CP. The children join their friends, who've been waiting for them, and they all run away quickly, rolling with laughter. The soldier starts chasing them but stops after only a few meters. He, too, understands that they were just having fun and that they will not be the perpetrators of the next (terrorist) incident.
At the Disputed House, where quite a few Israeli flags are already flying, we see a poster saying "thy children shall come again to your border" and photos of three people. Obviously, these are not Shalit, Regev and Goldwasser (in connection with whose kidnapping, and the struggle for their return, this saying has come to be immediately associated in Israel). The photos are apparently those of right-wing activists who were arrested by the police.
We drive on to Give'at Harsina. The area is deserted, apart from some soldiers, conducting a running contest.
At Shuyukh Sair, busy traffic as well as children, walking to school.
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:
- 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
-
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
-
Sa'ir
See all reports for this place-
A relatively affluent suburb of Palestinian Hebron. West of Highway 60 leading from Bethlehem to Hebron. The entrance to Highway 60 and to Shuyukh and Beit Einun to the east is open, but is subject to changes - concrete blocks denying passage are stationed according to the needs of the army.
-
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
Yael ZoranApr-15-2026Between the flags, barbed wire blocks passage to the dirt path.
-