Hebron, Sansana (Meitar Crossing), South Hebron Hills
08:30- 13:00
Meitar checkpoint is already empty at this hour.
Only a few drivers are here, who wait instead of returning home until it’s time to pick workers up at 16:00.
An entire economic system here, kiosks with food and vegetables, and garbage everywhere.
A worker makes cleaning motions but he doesn’t appear to have a chance of really cleaning up because there are no garbage bins and nowhere to put the garbage. He said they won’t give him a bin or trash cans, maybe because of security. There’s a huge stink from the Beersheba stream that flows nearby – a stream of sewage.
Some of those waiting rush to us to ask for help obtaining work permits. Each has been blacklisted for one reason or another. I refer them to Sylvia without getting their hopes up. Let’s hope some, at least, will succeed in getting a permit.
We came via Highway 317 and returned via Highway 60.
Everything is green and lovely, the almond trees are blossoming, the settlements of Susiya, Ma’on and Carmel are growing. Uri Ariel has done a “good job.”
Golani soldiers now patrol Hebron.
Potted plants and curtains on the upper story of Beit Hameriva even though it still looks like a military area. It’s clear civilians live in part of the structure.
A sign posted on one of the doors on the ground floor facing the Zion route announces that with God’s help a visitors’ center will soon open here with fancy tefillin and a Judaica store. That’s what it says.
Many Border Police soldiers, male and female, at Curve 160 and at the Cave of the Patriarchs, but no one is detained. Golani soldiers are the other checkpoints; they also patrol Shuhada Street. Settlers posted a sign which says it’s King David Street.
Civilians still don’t live in Beit Hamachpel but we see lights on the upper floor. Yehuda Shaul, from Breaking the Silence, leads a tour of visitors from abroad. Representatives of the TIPH and the ecumenicals are walking around.
And Hebron remains Hebron.
We returned via Highway 60. Many vehicles, but today military traffic is light and not obvious…
On our way back we stopped to see the Israeli side of the Meitar checkpoint. A light flow of laborers returning home at 12:30. In response to my question they reply, “Yes, not much work these days.” They weren’t able to get a serious job today. “Can you help us?”…