Sansana, South Hebron Hills, Sun 4.7.10, Morning
Trans.: Bracha B.A.
Sansana-Meitar Crossing, 05:15-08:00
We observed Palestinian workers pass through from the Palestinian side to the Israeli side. Passage was swift by the workers' own testimony, with three lanes open. One of the workers complained that despite the fact that he is over 40 the inspector at the booth told him that he had to go to the lane intended for those under 40. She would not allow him to go back and retrieve a bag that he had forgotten. The bag was eventually given to him by another worker (this was noted by one of the operators who reads our reports).
Fridays: We were told that on Fridays passage takes close to an hour and a half because only one lane is open and everyone has to go through the X-ray machine.
Restrooms: Workers complain that the restrooms are looked when they're around, apparently opened up for prisoners' families' visits only. Why is this so? We weren't allowed to photograph the locked restrooms – they are evidently a high-security area…
"Ramadin": An Alternative Crossing?
From the Sansana–Meitar crossing we went on to the crossing for those refused entry: the land of the chasers and the smugglers. Here, laborers looking for a days' work must pay drivers 100NIS for the short drive up to the Israeli side. This is done under the watchful gaze of the security forces, who intervene only occasionally. Today, they didn't. M. informed us that Zeit Zeituna is the largest refugee camp in the West Bank. At Elfawwar's grocery, Leah was impressed by the books in which the owner kept a careful list of all his expenditures and profits.
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
Muhammad D.Jul-5-2026Fares's guestroom in Shweika
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