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Hebron: The city looks more deserted than ever

Observers: Hagit Back
Oct-19-2020
| Morning

Last night I received a phone call from a family from Tarkumiya who own olive groves and the only way to get to and harvest them is through a Adora settlement. Since this year’s coordination is not successful, to say the least, because of the corona and because of political matters, they turned to me and asked for my help. And since I have been accustomed from my many years at Machsom watch to sometimes being a social worker of the occupation, I acceded to their request. I was able to find the the man in charge of security of the Adora settlement and reach an time table agreement with him.

The Palestinian family who came did not want to be photographed.

On the way to Tarkumiya we stopped at the olive press that started working and the oil is excellent.

For those interested in geography, this is Route 35, which connects Route 60 to the coastal plain. According to the Oslo Accords, this was to be the road connecting the Gaza Strip to the West Bank.

We continued to Hebron. The soldiers of the Golani Bazelet Regiment are now in Hebron. Schooling in Hebron is conducted almost as usual and (few) children roamed the streets with masks.

Other than that, the city is deserted.

Idris tells us that he is harvested now and that this year the army is watching him strong.

I have no idea what overwhelmed the Palestinian residents of Hebron, the corona or occupation, but the city looks more deserted than ever and the heart is pinching.

  • 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

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      Hebron, settlers vandalized the sign of the girls' school
  • 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
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