Sansana (Meitar Crossing), South Hebron Hills
9:30 a.m. – 13:00 p.m.
Meitar border point: Crowded in the exit direction from Israel to the occupied territories. We have already written about the heavy traffic in Saturdays, mainly towards Daharia.
Road 317: Military observations in cross roads. Also at the Tawuani- Yata pass, on the Yata side. The big brother eye on Saturdays.
Visit in the Hashem el Darage kindergarten: At the beginning of the visit, the kindergarten environment was viewed, including the classroom and the courtyard. There was a discussion about the importance of having an interesting and attractive classroom, and the need for appropriate drawings. As for the kindergarten yard, the existing games are not safe and pose a real danger for the playing children. Zasa has previously banned using these games in the yard.
The meeting was with Huda and Khaula. The teachers complained about the lack of stationery and necessary materials to help them perform the work and the inability to purchase these materials. During the meeting, Zada trained the teachers in using teaching strategy of learning by doing, playing, and drama, and emphasized the need to monitor their progress in mastering basic life skills. There was a discussion of the children’s evaluation scale, and the first semester plan was discussed as well. It was agreed with Khaula that she will photograph the children’s activities in the kindergarten and send them through the WhatsApp application to view them.
Fatima has contacted a donator woman in order to provide jackets and coats for all students and teachers. Fatima will join her in Hebron in order to actually purchase the coats next. The intention is to distribute the coats soon.
Umm-el-Khair: On our way back we stopped in the Umm al-Khair kindergarten. The teacher, Dalal, is ready to open the kindergarten, and she will work on arranging the furniture and collecting students. Hopefully, Hamed from the Villages group has raised enough funds in order to pay her salary. Currently there are 8 children, most of them under 4 years old.
Pictures of past activities in the preschool – the album gallery of Gan Huda:
https://sites.google.com/view/gan-huda/home
Meitar checkpoint / Sansana
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Meitar Checkpoint / Sansana The checkpoint is located on the Green Line and serves as a border crossing between Israel and the West Bank. It is managed by the Border Crossing Authority of the Defense Ministry. It is comprised of sections for the transfer of goods as well as a vehicle checkpoint (intended for holders of blue identity cards, foreign nationals or diplomats and international organizations). Passing of Palestinians is prohibited, except for those with entry permits to Israel. Palestinians are permitted to cross on foot only. The crossing has a DCO / DCL / DCL / DCL (District Coordination Office), a customs unit, supervision, and a police unit. In the last year, a breach has been opened in the fence, not far from the crossing. This breach is known to all, including the army. There does not appear to be any interest in blocking it, probably as it permits needed Palestinian workers without the bureaucratic permits to get to work in Israel. Food stalls and a parking area economy have been created, but incidents of violent abuse by border police have also been recorded. Updated April 2022
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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-21-2026Daphna with Azzam in Susiya
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