Sansana, South Hebron Hills, Fri 10.7.09, Morning
two guests: journalism students
Sansana:
CP is empty of workers. The woman-guard at the CP will not let us through because one of the students accompanying us has taken a photo of the CP. We explain to her, politely, that there's no reason not to photograph at the CPs and she gets annoyed. Finally, Shlomi, the CP's manager arrives and lets us leave.
Road 60
Empty as usual.
South Hebron Mount
We reach the village of Um il-Hir, where the herdsmen tell us that, a few days ago, they've walked with the herd next to the cattle-shed of the settlement Carmel. The settlement's security-head and a few soldiers begun chasing them with their vehicles. Their herd dispersed all over the place and they've almost been run over. The settlers claimed that they've tried to get into the cattle-shed with their herd. Needless to say, however, the sheds are fenced and the herdsmen certainly have nothing to do there.
Today, the herd is herded by two young boys. When they approached the cattle-shed they circumvented in fear. We accompanied them for some time, to make sure they are no harassed. When we had to leave, they, too, left the area immediately, not wanting to stay there without us.
In the village of Javis, one of the villagers told us that a few days ago, the security-manager of the "Metzoudat Yehuda" beat one of the locals. Ezra Nawwi and some of the "Combatants for Peace" activities turned to his rescue. That person fears filing a complaint with the police.
We asked them whether they have a Bezelem camera (Bezelem – an Israeli human rights NGO which, inter alia, distributes cameras among the locals in order to help them document their maltreatment by either army or settlers) so as to document such events in the future. They say they've once possessed such a camera but it was since smashed by one of the settlers.
That person also told us that the Ma'on settlers have beat up a neighboring Jabrin family member a few days ago. He didn't know any more details.
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
Smadar BeckerMay-31-2026The new outpost next to Qawawis, on Highway 317
-