Sansana (Meitar Crossing), South Hebron Hills
The winter weather has sent the workers back home and the Meitar checkpoint stands desolate. Few people pass through on their way to Israel in the morning. The schedule of Corona times in the southern Hebron Mountains and today – Thursday is the last day of the closure. They may decide to extend it.
At the entrance to Dahariya from the direction of Road 60, there is a checkpoint of the PA. Those who are not residents of the place are not allowed to enter.
At the entrance to Dura there are additional barriers of the PA.
At all entrances to Hebron there is a very strict watch on entry of vehicles at the three checkpoints, probably due to the many corona patients. In addition, the police in the city maintain a tight closure. Tests are conducted within the cities though it is not compulsory. Those who have symptoms are welcome to call and to be informed about where they can be examined.
At the junction of Route 60 in the direction of Route 317 In the village of Macatel Umm Salem, lives Amar with his wife and 6 children. He gathers junk and wood for heating. A settler came to say he was a resident of the place and asked him if he could dump the trees and waste of the settlements in the area. Amar agreed as he wanted to use firewood. Every month Amar unloaded two truckloadss at Amar’s house. An inspector from Israel arrived at Amar’s house (he does not know who sent her and whom she represents) and demanded that he clean up all the debris. If the debris is not emptied, bulldozers will also come to evacuate the structure located near the cave. Amar has no money to dispose of the waste and he and his family are worried.
Meitar checkpoint / Sansana
See all reports for this place-
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
-
South Hebron Hills
See all reports for this place-
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
MuhammadFeb-24-2026South Hebron Hill, Beit Hagai: Paving an internal security road
-