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Hebron, Sansana, South Hebron Hills, Wed 15.9.10, Morning

Observers: Netanaya G., Yehudit K. (reporting), Muhamad
Sep-15-2010
| Morning

We resumed our early morning observations.

Sansana-Meitar
Empty at 7am. On the Israeli side a bus awaited the prisoners' families. 

Route 60
Rather quiet although we noticed more military traffic than usual and additions to some of the blockades.
Dura-Alfawwar checkpoint was manned and at Bani Naim near the site of the recent attack there was a flying checkpoint that included soldiers and settlers.

Hebron 
Very quiet despite increased visibility of military personnel and vehicles. The Pharmacy and Tarpat checkpoints flowed smoothly. At Tel-Rumeida some tense soldiers checked passers by. We stopped for a chat with Abed at his shop and at the exit to Kiriat Arba, visited with the Jaber family in the village on the east side of Route 60.
This family had suffered a great deal lately by being accused by the Civil Adminsitration of stealing water and as a result their irrigation system was ripped out by the authorities. Jaber told us that last Thursday (09/09/2010) the army invaded his house and stayed there from 5pm to 8a.m. but "behaved ok" and didn't lock them in one room but allowed them to feel at home (in their own house). He showed us a note, torn from an excercise book and written in pencil, telling him to meet a Captain Eitan at the DCO in Gush Etzion. His lawyer told him to ignore the invitation, and so far there has been no follow up. Mrs Jaber talked a lot about the harrassment by settlers, including breaking into the house, cursing and beatings. There was a strange story that none of us could follow regarding the water: apparently they are waiting for permission from the Palestinian Authority to connect up their water pipes again, but the amount allocated is very small indeed. Rabbis for Human Rights are dealing with the situation and all the relevant bodies are aware of the problem – although with no concrete results at the moment. In spite of our helplessness, we felt that the meetings with the Jabers and Abed were positive because they dispel some of the isolation of people who feel their lives and property are considered worthless. Incdentally, from the Jaber house you can see the hill to the north of Kiryat Arba where a new caravan has appeared. According to Jaber there are four, replacing the ones recently removed.

  • 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

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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

       

       

      הכניסה למערה המשמשת מקלט במלחמה למשפחת נעימן
      Muhammad D.
      Apr-16-2026
      The entrance to the cave that served as a refuge during the war for the Na'iman family
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