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Hebron, Sansana, South Hebron Hills, Wed 17.2.10, Morning

Observers: Mira B. and Aviva (reporting)
Feb-17-2010
| Morning

translated by Bracha B.A.
Sansana-Meitar Crossing
There are lots of cars on the Israeli side but no one is waiting in line.
Route 60
The main entrance to Dahariya is blocked by piles of earth and cars and taxis are transferring people back to back. The almond orchards are in flower and look spectacular. An armored vehicle is standing on the road next to Abda. Soldiers are patrolling the road next to Dir al Fawar and it appears that they are entering Alfawwar. 
Hebron
At the entrance to Kiryat Arba a guard stops us at a crossing with an electronic gate and then lets us in. Everything is routine. There are a lot of children on their way to school. People are entering the cemetery near Tel Romeida. The buildings there look like they have been renovated. The buildings at the entrance to the Cave of the Patriarchs look new and less military-like.   
Hill 18 
Leaving Kiryat Arba, we decided to try and visit Hill 18 and we went over the {map} to see how to get there. We decided to simply get out of the car and walk there from the main road near the gas station at the entrance to Kiryat Arba. We climbed the hill and found a hut made out of plywood and automobile tires. There were a lot of children's toys scattered around and water pipes leading to the hut. There were another two huts as well and it looked occupied. When we looked inside we saw a stove and some furniture. It looked as if people reside there permanently. We also saw concrete foundations the size of the huts. There were a lot of metal remains of a previous evacuation that we knew had taken place in September of 2009. There was a bent aluminum roof and a lot of metal around as well as a caravan with a dog in a cage next to it. The entire area was full of orange flags with a Star of David on them. There was no one about. We started to walk back down and suddenly three settler youths appeared. One of them photographed us and another threw a rock at us that missed us. Another wore a face mask. We didn't know where they came from. The one who threw the rock threatened to beat us up. Another said aggressively: "I'm counting to ten and you're out of here."  We walked away and returned to our car. We remembered that there had been a violent incident here in January in which an activist from the TA'AUISH movement had been attacked by masked settlers and was injured and hospitalized. We were glad that our encounter wad less violent.  

  • 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

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      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

       

       

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