Hebron, South Hebron Hills
Following some stressful days in this area, reported by our [MW] colleagues, and caused by the proximity to the 20th anniversary of the murder of prayers in the Cave of the Patriarchs, we were very surprised to go through a relatively quiet shift of some hours on the roads. On sideways and junctions, too, there was no military presence. By contrast, many civilian vehicles drove on the roads (60 and 317), checkpoints were open and no soldiers were seen.
Hebron
In Hebron itself, the usual ghost-town quiet unfortunately. At Abed's, opposite the Patriarch's Cave, we met a group from Italy which arrived just then and were not requested to present their passports. We introduced ourselves and they were "impressed" (their English was poor as our Italian). Abed's son replied to our questions regarding yesterday's events, saying that he threw his first stone yesterday, but that it was during a quarrel between fans of two rival football groups at the Hebron arena and so the tearing gas he consequently suffered from was shot by the Palestinian police.
We brought some boxes of toys for the kindergarten at Tel Romeidah. The gate to the place we open and kind kindergarten teachers received us, though we couldn't talk to them, as they talked only Arabic and we talk none. Still, the kids were delighted and came to shake our hands. The garden encircling the house was upgraded with a toy/playing-house and a paved path. This kindergarten, which is populated by, and serves many children notwithstanding all the difficulties made for them by the Jewish environment, made us very-very happy.
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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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
MuhammadFeb-24-2026South Hebron Hill, Beit Hagai: Paving an internal security road
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