Sansana, South Hebron Hills, Sun 4.11.07, Morning
7:00- 10:30AM
Sansana- Meitar CP
We arrived slightly before 7:00am. To my estimate, over 200 people crowding in queue and no progress. Workers say they are there since 3:30am and still haven't gone in.
In response to our inquiry, we were told the computers are offline, but all 4 queues are manned. The workers claim only 2 are operating. Moments after our arrival, the line begins to move quickly – 25-30 people in a matter of minutes. Apparently, at some point they decided to switch over to manual ID checking.
7.32am, the CP is empty. The difference between a 4 hour wait and a 30 minute check is simply unbelievable.
Unfortunately, several workers came right back through the CP. At this late hour, the employer sees no point in taking the workers for a day of work. Two of them are informed that the next time they are "late", they will be replaced.
In the meantime, two problems arise:
The first, of Mohammad, whose son is being treated at Rambam hospital after surgery, but despite having a permit, isn't allowed to pass with his son in a car, so his son has to wait on the other side of the CP, with Mohammad waiting with the rest of the workers.
With the help of Hagit, the issue has been passed on to the care of the hospital to take up with the Civil Administration. We hope for the best, and wish the boy well.
The second problem is of Halil, who's been detained for trying to cross into Israel on Saturday in an illegal car. His ID card and Cell phone had been taken by the border police. The phone was returned to him, but his ID couldn't be found, so he couldn't pass the manual ID check in Sansana because the computers were down. We drove down to the police HQ, and an officer named Dudu Levi found the ID card and will be in touch with tomorrow's shift who'll return the card if there aren't any problems with it.
On the one hand, we were impressed with the border policemen. After arguing with the soldiers at the Sansana CP, it was nice to have a conversation with the policemen that also led to positive results.
On the other hand, Lea noticed a dozen detainees, who were standing behind a sheet and could not be seen from the road, and was appalled at how easily people could be made to disappear. The border police said they are being fed and given shelter from the sun, and released after a short while. After a few moments they were taken away into one of the inner buildings.
Other than that, everything is as usual.
Route 60
Dura-al Fawwar crossing, Sheep’s crossing, Shiukh – Hebron crossing , Sair-East Halhul, Zif Junction -all were open, Humanitarian – closed, opposite of Utniel – an open gate on a dirt road new to us.
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
Michal TsadikJul-25-2025The interior of the burnt house
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