South Hebron Hills

South Hebron HillsTuesday morning, 2 November 2004Observers: Lea, Tzafrira (reporting)We left Tel Shoket at 06.30 on Rd 60.At Sansara checkpoint, traffic was heavy in the direction of Beer Sheva (probably settlers in private cars], but few cars in our direction. We passed easily.Dura - Al Fawwar : Crossing open, no army, but only one Palestinian taxi at the entrance.Sheep's Crossing - No army and few pedestrians crossing.Shiuch Hebron to the girls' school -only a few girls crossing towards the school and a few boys in the opposite direction. Were we too early for most of the pupils, or perhaps is this related to Ramadan?Humanitarian crossing [for ambulances and medical needs] - gate closed as usual.Halhul-Hebron bridge- our usual entry to the bridge was sealed off, but we could see that the traffic was flowing freely. We returned to Rd 356.A "flying" [unscheduled] checkpoint near Jacinton with drivers were being checked in both directions.We phoned S. (the Muchtar of El-Tawani) to arrange to meet him as I had arranged the previous day, but he said he was in Jerusalem. There was no point in going to El Tawani without him. The crossing from El Tawani to Yatta is still closed and the earthworks along the side of the road have been raised.We returned to Sansara where the Border Police were friendly and wished us luck when we explained who we were.Returned to Tel Shoket at 8.30