Sansana (Meitar Crossing), South Hebron Hills
According to Muhammad, there was an early morning traffic congestion at Meitar Checkpoint, the car park and its sides are full.
We drove from Highway 60 to 317, meager traffic.
We reached Umm Fakara. Although there are buildings, above the surface, they sleep in a cave in winter. We sat in the cave, with Fadel, his wife and the children. The cave was full of smoke because they warm water on the fire. They are all freezing. Fadel has not worked for a long time, because the kids are sick, because of the cold and he’s the only one who can take them for treatment. In addition, the next day there was to be a trial where it would be decided whether to evict them all. We are waiting for an update …..
From there we went to A-Tuwani where we met Basel who said there were demolition orders. The settlers have broken all the trees that had been planted at the event about two weeks ago and they have planted again, one tree.
So infuriating .
On Route 317 opposite the A-Tuwani entrance, Palestinian tankers and water buyers stand buying from Mekorot which has put a tap there and sells to the Palestinians, of course, very expensive.
On the way to 60 you can see the blocks the army has made, with stones and dirt, at the exits from the small villages which lead to Yatta.
At the exit of Meitar Checkpoint, the parking lot was partially empty. It may be because of the mud caused by the the rains or that many did not have a job and they returned home earlier.
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
Daphna JungMar-16-2025Simia: Farhan and his wife
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