South Hebron Hills, Thu 16.6.11, Morning
Huda's Kindergarten
16.06.11 Morning
Translation: Bracha B.A.
The objective of this trip was to take part in the end of the year party in the kindergarten. The idea for the party came about during our last visit. We planned to invite the mothers and celebrate together. We picked up Eid at Um al Khair.
The new building is coming along rapidly in the area in front of the kindergarten. Eid says that there is already electricity. The building is of European style and the electricity is supplied by the electric company.
When we arrived, many children and their mothers were already present, in the small building. Huda sent out invitations to the party and succeeded in gathering many of the mothers and children. This is quite an accomplishment in this society, particularly since the older children are on vacation from school and are not available to bring the children. Since Eid (male) is present, all mothers are veiled with only their eyes exposed. Representatives of UNWRA, the organization that is building the new kindergarten, remained waiting outside.
The party began with a welcome speech made by Huda the teacher and a representative from UNWRA. Since the party was attended by women, Mohammed and Eid waited outside. The program included readings that Huda had prepared. The children stood one, two, or three at a time at the entrance which served as a makeshift stage and recited texts in Arabic. Huda distributed gifts that she bought for the children who were going on to first grade and hence, leaving the kindergarten, and the children then received treats that we brought along. The lollipops that Suhai brought were a real hit.
After the party was over we helped Huda bring in equipment that was moved out to make room. Huda promised to be in contact with us regarding plans to run a summer camp during vacation. We paid Huda half her June salary and took her home, stopping on the way to shake hands with the mukhtar who supports the activities in the kindergarten. Pictures from the party as well as our previous visits can be viewed at the Picasso website for Huda's Kindergarten.
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
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