Sansana, South Hebron Hills, Mon 7.4.08, Morning
Meitar (Sansana) CP
We arrived at the crossing shortly after 7:00 and stayed until 7:45. About 50 Palestinians were waiting to cross. The line began to move quickly while we were there. They reported that the security checks were very slow both yesterday and today and long waits were involved. They complained that the situation at the crossing was worse than it had been when the army was in control. They also reported that there now are long waits when they re-enter the West Bank at the end of day.
We talked to the head of the shift (Michael) and to the head of the crossing (Shlomo). In response to our question about the slowness of the processing, they told us there are two stations to process the Palestinians and today (yesterday also?) there was glitch with one of the computers at one station and at the other, there was a problem with the machine that identifies hand prints. Both Michael and Shlomo report that two other stations are ready to function but lack the necessary electronic equipment and that they have no idea how long it will take the Defense Ministry to provide funds for this equipment. Michael agreed that if the crossing were opened a half an hour earlier there would be less problem processing the workers waiting to cross. In contrast, Shlomo said that the number of workers waiting to cross at the early hours was relatively few so there is no need to open the crossing earlier. In other words, if we are to believe Shlomo, the reports we received from the workers are baseless. Only someone willing to go early (4:30) with a small camera would be able to document the number of workers arriving early and the speed of their processing.
Road 60
Dura-Al Fawwar: open. There was a jeep at the turn just before Beit Haggai.
Sheep junction: open. Two jeeps stationed across the road from Bani Nayim.
Shuyukh junction – The taxi drivers on the Shuyukh side of the junction reported that they were being held for up to three hours at the internal road block between Shuyukh and Bani Hayim which is manned by the Border Police. They also reported that at about 9am in the morning university students crossing the road to get to their classes at Hebron University were been subjected to lengthy security checks which prevented them from getting to class.
The Border Police unit stationed at the junction told us they were not usually stationed there. They were temporarily replacing a Nahal unit. According to them, the length of time a person is held for a check does not depend on them. They have to wait until the clearance is given by the Internal Security Service and this can be anywhere from 5 minutes to 3 hours. They said it is sometime difficult to get through to the office in charge of security clearance.
Sair-Halhoul junction: Open.
Road 356 – 317
Zif junction– We passed this junction at 8:40. It was open. The road leading up to Al Twani after the settlement Carmel had been cleared of its barrier as had the road across from it.
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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