Sansana, South Hebron Hills, Sun 6.1.08, Morning
Meitar – Sansana CP
(07:00-07:40) The checkpoint is fully privatized, no trace of soldiers nor police officers. The first carousel is open, the line is formed all the way to the second one and flows on in reasonable pace, though we hear complains about very early arrival to get to the head of the line, and we still don't know why only two of the four checking stands are staffed and working. A security guy on top of the nearby pillbox calls occasionally to anyone strolling out of line and too close to the fence to get back in line. We passed to the Israeli side of the checkpoint. Near the passage of the Palestinian workers, 6 cages with barred windows for the dogs. One security man plays with one of those frightening dogs who is not on a leash, right by the workers on their way out towards the parking lot. Very disturbing sight. Some Palestinians pass occasionally on foot through the cars' checkpoint, these are with passage permits not for work, such as to go to the hospital.
Specific complaints:
1) Why are work tools banned? Other checkpoints allow this.
2) Someone was told not to bring coffee next time. It appears that the bag was new and unopened (not to mention cans). We advised to bring it in a simple clear plastic bag, not the original package.
3) The checkpoint is closed Saturdays, unlike other checkpoints, and contrary to declared policy.
4) On Fridays workers are told to be back by 13:30, or return through Tarqumia. Neither option is possible for them, so they end up waiting forever at the cars'checkpoint for passage back home.
5) One Palestinian resident of Beer Sheva (says he prifited from the family reunion policy) drives every day to the Dura- El Fawar junction to bring his workers, complains that he is the only Israeli employer who does this who gets checked, including his car, including sniffing dogs, every day.
Road 60
The first 2 km are new, work on the road continues. Our driver, A., says that that Palestinian cars are no longer prevented from driving on the road, with the exception of cars trying to get on the road at blocked places (we saw one going for this option near Samo'a), accused of "tearing down the blockade". We still saw one donkey rider and one donkey and cart, in place of normal transportation.
At the junction to the left leading towards Dahariya north of Ottniel, the blocking rocks pulled apart a little, some commercial vans on both sides, A. says this is a "back to back" trade transfer point.
Shayuh, 08:15 – a military hammer jeep parked east of the road, near the blockade. On our way back, 7 min. later it is no longer there. On our way back south, near the junction of road 35, a big sign says: "Welcome to the regional council Hebron Mountains, 25 years of settlement and growth".
Back on road 317: the low concrete separation fence has been removed all the way, near Soussya all we see is the whitish line it scarred alongside the road
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 ZoranApr-15-2026Between the flags, barbed wire blocks passage to the dirt path.
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