Hebron - visiting our friend Idris
A shift to Hebron and a stop on the way in Al Fawwar.
On our way to Hebron, we turn from Route 60 to the Al Fawwar refugee camp.
Al Fawwar is a refugee camp that was established in 1949, and its population is mostly from the Beer Sheva and Beit Jubrin area. There is a new sign at the entrance. We visit Musa’s grocery store. According to him there is not much new.
From there we continued to Hebron. The purpose of the trip this time, a visit to our friend Idris, whom we have been visiting for several years. Idris underwent oncological surgery at the Augusta Victoria Hospital in Jerusalem. Idris tells us about the dedicated and professional treatment he received and he is recuperating in his home, which is located near Maayan (spring) Avraham, at the foot of Tel Hebron, opposite the military camp on King David Street, near the abandoned Shuhada Street.
On our way to the house of Idris and Fathiya, we saw several girls, dressed in embroidered Palestinian dresses. The reason: This is the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad.
Some of the grandchildren are at home and according to tradition it is customary to honour them with sweets. While we are listening to Idris about his experiences in the hospital, the 12-year-old grandson arrived excitedly and said that soldiers were near the entrance to their house. We all got up to see what the purpose of the visit was, and it turned out that they had seen Michal and me going up the stairs towards the house we were visiting and were worried about us. We reassured them and told them that Idris has been our friend for years, and there is nothing to worry about.
Idris introduced us as his sisters. We told them about MachsomWatch, and they were attentive.
Abed, Idris’ son, tells us about a Jew who stumbled on the eve of Yom Kippur, in an area that is not allowed for Jews. Abed made sure to inform the Hebron police about the event and protected the Jew.
No thanks for that.
We said goodbye to the family, until the next visit.
On our way back we stopped at Yusri Jaber who lives with his family below the Nofei Mamre neighbourhood, and you can see his orchard and field crops, how close the Israeli flag flies in front of their house.
We went in to bless the birth of an 8-day-old baby, and we too were greeted with blessings.
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:
- 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
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