South Mount Hebron, Hebron, Sansana, Meytar and surroundings
Sansana-Meitar
6:50 a.m. As we saw a great many people on the Israeli side, we decided to visit there. Everyone we spoke to had one word to describe their passage "murder!" One man told us that as recently there's only one checking window open, they sometimes miss their employers because they can't get through in time. Another nursed his bruised arm – it got caught in the carousel and was crushed. It was clear that he was in some pain. At the minimalist local "café" a boy of 7 is in charge (forgot to ask for his name and whether he goes to school at all). His eyes have the dead look of children whose lives are difficult, and worse. Mohammed and YK decided to come early next week (4:30) and see what goes on on the other side.
Route 60
Relatively lively, especially Israeli cars. A few Palestinians, presumably with a death wish, drive/fly past.
Dura Elfawwar
Unlike last week, at Dura, entry is open; at Elfawwar, a soldier stands in his booth in full gear, his gun pointed at passers by. Lots of really young children wander along the edges of the road. I wish they wouldn't!
Hebron:
At the Pharmacy checkpoint the angry CPT women tell us that the soldiers are checking every bag. Indeed, in front of our astonished eyes they rummage in the bags of elementary school kids, including one with a geometry set – compass and ruler (sharp objects) which the soldiers presumably have never seen before and which require two of them to go over and discuss. The child passes quite sanguine – presumably, this is routine for him.
A man is detained and given a cursory body check. He wanders round the checkpoint cursing loudly until we fear for his safety. The beigel vendor round the corner (Nizam?) leaves his goods in Mohammed's care and comes round, to calm the poor fellow. The man usually crosses at another checkpoint (no shortage of them!) One of the CPT people claims that she has a letter from ACRI affirming that checking school bags is illegal. She promises to send a copy and asks us to inform the DCO to this effect.
The Worshippers' Lane is as usual. The workers have returned and are renovating Osama's house. But on the road from the lane to Kiryat Arba there seem to be more shops opening for business and even a few signs of painting and refurbishing. "Buy only from Jews" is scrawled on one shop front under a Magen David. The never-ending saga of Hebron.
Hebron
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According to Wye Plantation Accords (1997), Hebron is divided in two: H1 is under Palestinian Authority control, H2 is under Israeli control. In Hebron there are 170,000 Palestinian citizens, 60,000 of them in H2. Between the two areas are permanent checkpoints, manned at all hours, preventing Palestinian movement between them and controlling passage of permit holders such as teachers and schoolchildren. Some 800 Jews live in Avraham Avinu Quarter and Tel Rumeida, on Givat HaAvot and in the wholesale market.
Checkpoints observed in H2:
- Bet Hameriva CP- manned with a pillbox
- Kapisha quarter CP (the northern side of Zion axis) - manned with a pillbox
- The 160 turn CP (the southern side of Zion axis) - manned with a pillbox
- Avraham Avinu quarter - watch station
- The pharmacy CP - checking inside a caravan with a magnometer
- Tarpat (1929) CP - checking inside a caravan with a magnometer
- Tel Rumeida CP - guarding station
- Beit Hadassah CP - guarding station
Three checkpoints around the Tomb of the Patriarchs
Raya YeorDec-18-2025Hebron - Yusri Jaber and part of his family
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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 TsadikFeb-17-2026Umm al-Khair: The soccer field for Palestinian children is surrounded by new trailers and lots of Israeli flags
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