Back to reports search page

Hebron, Tarqumiya, Tue 17.2.09, Morning

Observers: Michal Ts., Hagit B. (reports)
Feb-17-2009
| Morning

Sansana

6:40 – Thirty trucks are on their way to download sand – there are no workers at CP and those who arrive, go through immediately. Three buses of prisoners' families are making their way.

 Road 60

Very few cars on the road – no military vehicles at all – soldiers remain inside pillboxes, avoiding rolling checkpoints. Children walk along the sideway to their schools. All blockages are in place, and all pillboxes, manned.

 Hebron

Right beyond the yellow gate, settlers praying in the synagogue located under the patriarchs' quarter. Many children on their way to school.

Along the way leading to the House of Dispute, concrete blocks have been removed – perhaps heralding the [re]opening of the way? Boarder Police CP next to the House of Dispute is manned and operated by Boarder Police soldiers.

The Prayers' Route: the gray gate is open, and some concrete blocks, on which is written "The Patriarchs' Quarter" were left lying there.

On the turn to the Patriarchs' Tomb Cave, a Boarder Police Jeep is stationed. They don't get off the Jeep. Many children walk through this obstacle to school. It is extremely dirty, the soldiers having liberally littered there.

Pharmacy CP: the children go through quickly – they are rather satisfied with the Boarder Police soldiers' presence there. The regular Friday demonstrations take place and we are still in touch with the victim's family – a 15yrs old boy.

Going uphill, towards Tel Rumeydah, the settlers scribbled some new graffiti on the wall: "Hebron is ours to eternity", etc. – this time, there's no "Death to the Arabs".

Tel Rumeydah CP: the children go through without any problems. The soldiers remain in their booth.

Tarpat CP: a soldier waits for more teachers to come along – he takes the list out of the booth and lets them walk through only after having glanced through their IDs.

At the Patriarchs' Tombs' Cave entrance CP: concrete blockages have been removed. Might this be another sign for the [re]opening of the way?

Patriarchs' Tombs' Cave CPs: there are no detainees, and some building works, involving a new sewage pipe are in progress. Stores are still shut down because it still very early and cold.

Overall, Hebron is very harsh and depressing.

 

Road 35

Humanitarian CP: pillbox is manned.

Olive passageway: open. Many Palestinian cars on the road.

Tarqumiya-Idna: pillbox is manner. IDF soldiers have taken over the Boarder Police soldiers and the grocer tells us the latter were better. The soldiers walk down at noontime to set up rolling checkpoints. On Sunday, Palestinian criminals stole a truck from an Israeli driver. They kicked him off next to the pillbox – the army contacted the Palestinian Police, which set up a checkpoint on the Tarqumiya-Bet Kahil road and caught the stolen truck. It was returned to the driver. That afternoon, a massive army force (20 Jeeps) moved into Taruqmiya and searched.

 

Tarqumiya: following a phone call we received, concerning the harshening of checkups, we turned to talk to the truck drivers: currently, they wait with their trucks where the old CP used to stand. When it is their turn, they are contacted by phone, and proceed to the CP. They can wait there between two to five hours – without the minimal service – not even a bathroom or where to shelter from the rain. Everyday, between 200 and 300 trucks drive through this CP. The checkups they undergo there are include a screening machine if anything rings – and then, they are asked to take their clothes off – sometimes at the point of a gun. On the 24th [February?] they have a meeting set with the CP's manager. We shall be following this one up (and again, we face the old dilemma: should we act as if we were social workers on behalf of the occupation and help them – or merely report?)

  • 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
  • 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