Sansana (Meitar Crossing), South Hebron Hills
A shift to the western Hebron hills
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At the Meitar crossing we see that the families of the prisoners boarding the Israeli buses. The families’ passage is organized and supervised by the Red Cross, the occupation is already so perfect that there are no mishaps. Only the process itself is terrible. Three hours’ drive to the checkpoints, a check of more than an hour, and a boarding of Israeli buses. They travel under guard of the police to the prisons. There they are again checked and visit with the prisoners for half an hour. The prisoners have the right of a family visit once every three weeks, and this can also be taken from them at any given moment.
I did not have the energy to go into Hebron and as there was a shift yesterday and there’ll be one tomorrow, I allowed myself to do so. We went to see what is happening at Hursa and what is happening at the blockade between Beit Awwa and Sika.
The bloackage was removed during the night before after it had been there for about three weeks. This of course created difficulties in the daily life of the residents of the two villages.
On the way we entered the settlement of Negohot, neighbourhood B, which is closer to the new Route 358. There are seven families waiting for more building permits for other settlers, a young settler who was working with his son, who is being taught at home and who is engaged in recycling bottles spoke about his sense of mission. He is in favor of one state … and peace between neighbors ….. but be careful he tells me.
The photos:
The fence which changed into a wall on the Palestinian side next to the village of Sika.
The yellow gate which was opened yesterday leading to Beit Awwa. The sign warning about entering the occupied territories.
Again the wall in the area which exactly on the Green Line
A bus with the families of the prisoners.
And the occupation goes on in its merry way.
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.Sep-8-2026Closed Samu' checkpoint
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