Dura-Al Fawwar Junction, Hebron, Sansana (Meitar Crossing), South Hebron Hills

Meitar checkpoint.  The parking lot is full.  The laborers report many roadblocks on the internal roads leading to the Tarqumiyya checkpoint so many cross through the Meitar checkpoint and also arrive by bus.  After 7 AM people aged 55 and older who possess a magnetic card are allowed to enter Israel even without a work permit.  Approximately 200 laborers take advantage of this opportunity.

Highway 60.  Much more Palestinian traffic on the roads than I saw during my previous shift.

Samu’a is open, no soldiers.  Dahariyya is open, soldiers at a checkpoint.  Karameh – a new roadblock with a huge boulder we couldn’t move.

‘Abadeh – roadblock.  Deir Razk – roadblock.  Dura al-Fawwar – two closed gates, soldiers in the pillbox.  Beit Haggai – soldiers at a roadblock.  Kvasim junction – the entry from Yata is closed; roadblock with soldiers on the Hebron side.  Shuyukh-Hebron – The two gates are closed, no soldiers.  Bani Na’im south – The Palestinians have removed the roadblock and are driving on the road.  Bani Na’im north – roadblock.  Halhul-Sa’ir – roadblock with soldiers.

Highway 35 – roadblock with soldiers at Hazayit crossing and on the Halhul-Hebron bridge.

Hebron

This time we received authorization by phone from Moshe, the Kiryat Arba security officer, to enter – Hebron is no longer a closed military area.  Although we received friendly advice not to enter to speak with the murderous Palestinians, but I can’t stop you…  The guard at the entrance must have informed Ofer or someone else because we immediately had an escort…

Here’s what we saw at the entrance to Hebron:

At the foot of Giv’at Ha’avot – a synagogue sitting on private Palestinian land.  It had already been demolished by the Civil Administration.  Until Sukkot soldiers ensured it wasn’t rebuilt…now all is permitted.  Next to it hung big printed vinyl banners - "keep the routes cleansed". (I was afraid to photograph)

Next to the synagogue, just past the turn to Giv’at Ha’avot, at the entrance to the Kafisha neighborhood, there’s a new checkpoint.

I didn’t photograph, but the soldiers had stopped an elderly woman carrying a black plastic bag, took it from her, asked her to turn around, inspected the contents of the bag and then allowed her to continue.  We stopped to observe and see what would happen.  The soldiers are so fearful they’re trigger-happy.

Here’s what we saw at Beit Hameriva.

Everyone who passed was put against the wall and checked.

Worshippers route – soldiers on both sides of the road.   Mothers of pupils in the nearby school wait to take their children home.  We hadn’t seen this before; the children had walked freely through the streets.

Tarpa”t checkpoint.  The Palestine Electric Company is raising higher the netting protecting the checkpoint.

Curve 160 checkpoint.  The occupation routine continues.

A new checkpoint is being erected up in the Tel Rumeida neighborhood.

Every hundred meters in the H2 area in Hebron two soldiers are stationed, stopping anyone they choose.  TIFH patrols don’t have sufficient manpower to observe them all.

The peace activists were expelled from the Tel Rumeida neighborhood.  Some returned to their home countries.

This is the vehicle carrying Baruch Marzel, who blocked our way and stopped next to each soldier and told them about the dirty traitors riding in the van behind him.

Pharmacy checkpoint.  The children returning from school had gathered, soldiers climbed on one of the rooftops near the checkpoint and threw tear gas grenades.  We didn’t see anyone throwing rocks, and the children were very young.

That’s it - there’s nothing more to say.