Hebron, South Hebron Hills, Mon 11.2.13, Morning
Translator: Charles K.
08:30 – 11:30
Meitar crossing
Infrastructure work at the merchandise crossing proceeds apace. On our way back, M., our faithful driver, shows us how bus number 28 of the Metropolitan company coming from the settlements, on which Arabs are allowed to ride, is inspected very suspiciously, while the buses of the Southern Hebron Hills regional council aren’t inspected at all. The settlers are above it all.
We see military vehicles on Highway 317 guarding the Carmel and Ma’on settlements. From whom? No one protects the Palestinian localities there from repeated harassment by the settlers.
All along the road we see the red signs that have been planted to warn against entering Palestinian territory.
We drove into Beni Na’im to see the vineyard belonging to Menachem Livni, the Jewish terrorist (who had been sentenced to life in prison for his part in the Jewish underground). He gets a military escort whenever he feels like going to the vineyard. That’s how they waste good people on days of reserve duty. The red signs there were erected on the other side of his vineyard. Thus the army helps settlers – and, in this case, the terrorist – to take over Palestinian lands.
Hebron
The barrier next to Beit HaMeriva isn’t locked, the soldiers seated on the roof allow the Palestinian driver to open the checkpoint himself, the factory has a permit. The soldiers are too lazy to come down.
A bus carrying soldiers on a tour drives along the worshippers’ route; locals watch apprehensively.
At the entrance to the Cave of the Patriarchs they again speak to our driver in a racist manner: “You’re not Jewish; you’re not allowed in.” When I say to the soldier, “Do you realize what you asked?!” he calls his colleague who explains that he’s allowed to enter the parking lot, but not to pray. I remind him of Beitar Yerushalyim; the soldier blushes. They simply don’t understand what they’re saying; it’s really a shame.
Otherwise – the occupation routine.
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
Muhammad D.May-13-2026Hebron - Request for compensation for land expropriation
-
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
Muhammad D.Jul-5-2026Fares's guestroom in Shweika
-