Sansana, South Hebron Hills, Sun 21.10.07, Morning
06:00 – 09:00 AM
Sansana-Meitar CP
On our arrival, a few minutes past 06:00, hundreds of people lined up, before the carousel, waiting already at least two hours to pass. We observed that it took for the carousel to open and let 2-3 people in over 5 minutes. After sometime the pace quickened somewhat. It looks as if the barrier, in which the people line up, will not endure for long the pressure of the masses. The people shouted and complained to us that we have to do something, that it cannot go on like this for longer, that we should bring journalists and photograph them, so “that the world shall see the misery”, “for they deride the people”, and “let them close the CP at all”.
When we left at 07:30, over a hundred people, to our estimation, were still lining up. Others simply left, having lost a day’s work. Even after nine o’clock, on our return, still we saw people lining up on the Palestinian side.
The contractors, on the Israeli side, were also angry and frustrated. Haim Tabor, representative of the contractors in the South said that since the new commander of the CP has arrived matters got much worse. He wants to meet the Commander of the Brigade and complain. He said that only two inspection posts of the 4 operate and it is not enough. More Palestinians get permits but the CP has not adjusted itself.
At last, the commander himself, L. Guy, came out. He listened to our complaints, smugly. He is convinced that the pace of inspection is normal. He does not detect any problem. Maybe, he explained to our questioning, that when L. Yuval was commander the pace of inspection was quicker, but he made some “slip-ups”. He did not elaborate on the “slip-ups”. We wondered whether efficient checking is considered a slip-up. Officer Tarek from the DCO, whom we asked to intervene, promised to do so, but on the ground matters did not improve.Something has to be done and the Head of the Ministry of the Security should be officially informed.
Ramadin CP
Good news awaited us at Ramadin. The CP has been dismantled!
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
Yael ZoranMay-22-2025The bumpy road to Ata's house
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