Hebron, South Hebron Hills, Tue 7.12.10, Morning
Translator: Charles K.
This shift was characterized by expanded presence and activity of the army and security forces throughout the sector.
Meitar crossing
Laborers cross with no unnecessary delays. As usual, there’s someone who says that things go smoothly because the cameras see that we’re here. But we think it’s because all the lanes are open and operating.
Relatives of prisoners get out of four buses on their way to the Ketziot prison. Three of them arrived early, and their passengers have to wait in the shed until all the laborers have crossed. During this time the sellers of falafel, canned goods and yogurt are very active. The narrow road to the crossing is jammed; business is best at this hour. Clearly some of the families depend on the peddlers to complete their purchases for their imprisoned relatives, not only to drink coffee and eat falafel themselves. Schools in the area are closed for the Moslem holiday and many children accompany their mothers.
Route 60
On our way there, and on our return, a large number of flying checkpoints, in numbers we haven’t seen for a long time.
Here’s a short list:
Near the entrance to the settlement of Shamo'a
On the way down from the settlement of Beit Haggai next to the silver razor-wire barrier;
In front of regional brigade headquarters;
At the junction of the road coming from Bani Na’im;
At the entrance to Elfawwar.
On the road itself – increased traffic of jeeps and other armored vehicles.
Hebron
Palestinian schools are closed for the Moslem holiday (Muhammad’s birthday). That’s why the CPT observers aren’t present, and limited traffic of UN and TIPH vehicles.
Remember that Jewish schools are also closed because of Hanukkah, but we see many youths and their parents walking to pray at the Cave of the Patriarchs.
Few Palestinian pedestrians. Ceaseless traffic of jeeps and armored vehicles throughout the city. Permanent checkpoints have been reinforced by Border Police soldiers. Special security measures at the Worshippers Route, Beit HaMeriva, Curve 160, Pharmacy and Tel Rumeida. We hear the checkpoint loudspeakers issuing individual instructions to the soldiers at the checkpoints. In view of the situation, we didn’t try to talk to them.
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
Muhammad D.Apr-16-2026The entrance to the cave that served as a refuge during the war for the Na'iman family
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