Sansana (Meitar Crossing), South Hebron Hills, Sun 3.2.13, Morning
Translator: Charles K.
Sansana-Meitar crossing
We left for the Meitar border crossing at 06:30. Everything there was quiet; even though more laborers are crossing to work in Israel they go through pretty quickly.
Southern Hebron Hills – A Tawwani
We drove to Tawwani to see whether the children safely traverse the road between Ma’on and the Ma’on farm. This is the first time I’ve been there. We arrived at 07:30; the two Italian volunteers showed up around 07:40. We don’t yet see either the children or the military vehicle.
At 07:50 the military vehicle arrives and the children begin walking down the road to school. The military vehicle doesn’t escort them; the children approach the Ma’on farm alone. Suddenly we see a vehicle coming from the direction of the farm, and then – and only then – does the military vehicle drive down to where the road to the school meets the road coming from the farm, apparently to make sure nothing happens.
As someone there for the first time who notices things that people who’ve become used to the place may overlook, and because I’d read the report Michal sent us two weeks ago, I think we must again demand that a more orderly procedure be established – that the army commit to appear at a set time or, as an alternative, that the children be driven back and forth to school. It’s worth asking Machsom Watch’s lawyer about this.
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
Raya YeorMay-15-2025No-traffic signs around Dahariya
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