Hebron, South Hebron Hills, Mon 21.6.10, Morning
Translation: Bracha B.A.
Route 35
Tarqumiya: There is a lot of traffic on the road, including Palestinian cars. At Shayoukh Sair the roadblocks are in place and look like they have always been there. The orchards and vineyards are flourishing and attest to wonderful agriculture.
Hebron
Today no one tried to prevent us from entering Kiryat Arba. The caravans at the entrance are still there. At the entrance, intense construction work can be seen, expanding the settlement.
In Hebron itself, streets are almost empty. There are only a few children about as school vacation has already begun.
Curve 160: Two soldiers and no one passing through.
The Cave of the Patriarchs: A soldier is escorting Palestinian children through the pharmacy checkpoint. Shuhada Street is empty.
Tarpat Checkpoint: soldiers check an old man's shopping bag and smile at him as he departs.
Tel Romeida: Several jeeps are parked nearby. Some of the soldiers explained to us that a local resident had recently been disruptive and that was the reason for their presence.
Next to the Patriarchs' Cave, at Abed's, there is Hassidic music playing from Beit Gutnick at a reasonable volume, but still unnecessary. The Border Policemen's position is calm. A lot of children are carrying containers of food that they received from the Waqef (Moslem Religious leaders). Abed voices his disapproval of them and says that they, like the entire leadership, are corrupt.
At Bassem's there is no work. They are not making shoes any more because everything comes from China. We talk with them over a cup of mint tea and they tell us that the settlers intend to take control of all their land to prepare it for the construction of a road, or make a shortcut to the Cave of the Patriarchs. The wadi is called Wadi Al-Hassnin. Is there a way to find out about this and, if necessary, prevent it?
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
Smadar BeckerApr-10-2026New Israeli flags placed for miles on Highway 317 to prove who is sovereign
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