Back to reports search page

Hebron, Tarqumiya

Place: Hebron Tarqumiya CP
Observers: Raya, Nina, Hagit S.-S.; Translator: Charles K.
Aug-13-2014
| Morning

 

After a long hiatus because of the war in Gaza we went out again, wondering how things will look now.

 

Tarqumiyya, Highway 60 – grapes and figs in the stands on the road.

Shayukh crossing – Hebron and Sayukh-Sa’ir gates are open.

 

Hebron

Today the car is loaded with many bags of clothing and toys, but since Fadel, from Umm Faqra isn’t home we drove to Hebron to meet our friend and see what Giv’at Avihai looks like – we again see at least two structures.

 

Near Curve 160 construction continues on the buildings which had been in ruins for years.

 

Soldiers on guard at Beit Hameriva.

 

Cave of the Patriarchs:  Pretty quiet, few people and almost no tourists – which is what ‘Abed also reports.

Suddenly Ofer Ohana appears with some tourists, they crowd against our car and begin to argue – including clichéd accusations against Machsom Watch (we aid the Arabs, photograph soldiers, didn’t travel to support the residents of the localities near Gaza, etc.)

Raya responds very well and the “discussion” concludes when Ofer utters another cliché – “We’re elevated above all nations.”  And we’re on our way for a short visit to Azzam and the adjoining grocery store. 

Everyone, everywhere is affable and welcoming as before, as if nothing had happened…

 

We gave the bags of clothing to a woman whose home adjoins the fence of the mobile home neighborhood on the hilltop.

 

Tarqumiyya

At about 5 PM the laborers returning from work flow through the Tarqumiyya crossing with no delays.

  • 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

      חברון - יוסרי ג'אבר וחלק ממשפחתו
      Raya Yeor
      Dec-18-2025
      Hebron - Yusri Jaber and part of his family
      View the full album

  • Tarqumiya CP

    See all reports for this place
    • The Tarqumiya Checkpoint is one of the largest and busiest checkpoints where people and goods cross into Israel. It is located on the Separation Barrier close to the Green Line, on Road 35 (connecting Beer Sheva and Hebron). It is run by the Israel Defense Ministry’s Crossings Administration with civilian secuirty companies running the day to day operations. The checkpoint  is indeed open to vehicles in both directions 24/7, but Palestinians are prevented from crossing in vehicles, except in  special cases. MachsomWatch activists visit the checkpoint as it opens at 3:45 am, in order to observe the daily  passage of nearly 10,000 Palestinian workers.  The workers arrive from throughout the Southern West Bank.  Our activists report on the tremendous overcrowding at this checkpoint; they have observed young men climbing and scrambling on the fences and roofs of the ‘access cages’.  This is how the work day begins for those who ‘build the land of Israel’. updated November 2019
Donate