South Hebron Hills – settlers’ sheep use Palestinian landלסטינית

Place:

Sansana (Meitar Crossing)

South Hebron Hills

Tags:

Settler-colonists injure Palestinians body, soul and property

Observers:

Smadar (reporting) and Muhammad; Editor: Mira Balaban; Translator: Natanya

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Jul-3-2023

Morning

Wadi Radim - with Nauris

Photo:

Muhammad D

ואדי רד'ים - פארח ואחיותיה עם הגדי בטיפולן

Wadi Radim - Fareh with the kid

Photo:

Muhammad D

The purpose of the shift: to assist in the crossing of the checkpoint of the Palestinians from Simiya who are going to the sea which has been organized by women of MachsomWatch , and to report on the situation in the area of Abu Safi and the residents of the Wadada.

Passage of Sea Day participants from Simiya: Sea days are organized by women from MachsomWatch so as to allow the Palestiniansto have a day at the sea which normally they are prevented from doing by the checkposts. Palestinians from the West Bank get a day of joy and fun, and also get to know Israelis who are not soldiers or settlers. Farhan (from the village of Simiya, near Samu’), sent Muhammad information about the people of Simiya who were going to the sea, and therefore we started the shift at the Meitar crossing, with the aim of making sure that the passage of the villagers would go well. Happily, the transition was smooth. Later we went to Abu Safi.

Abu Safi lives in the area southwest of Asa’el, and near Israel Kaplan's Mikneh-Yehuda farm (an illegal outpost). Abu Safi is hospitalized in a hospital in Hebron, after undergoing catheterization. According to the diagnosis, he must undergo heart surgery.

Nauris, Abu Safi's wife, takes care, with the help of the daughters and her son Rami, to continue managing the farm. We are sitting at the entrance to their house. Nauris says that Israel Kaplan moved his herd to the land of his neighbor, Ahmad, which was sold to Kaplan a few months ago. On this land which was Ahmad's, the land is being prepared probably so as to plant a vineyard. In addition, for the past week, Kaplan's shepherd has been bringing his flock into Abu Safi's territory every day. Now the situation is that there is no barley left for Abu Safi's sheep. Rami, Abu Safi's son, tried to talk to the shepherd, but he didn't even respond. The police were not contacted: there is no point.

Saleh, a resident of the area called Lower Wadada, moved to an area that belongs to him, between Samu’ and the Asa’el outpost, because of the daily incursions by Yinon, the settler from the Meitarim farm.

Rania, Abu Safi's daughter, gave birth about a month ago to a daughter, Rasha. We brought clothes and baby info-icon products, and we made her happy

Location Description

Yata / Southern Hebron hills

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Yatta is a city located in the South Hebron Hills region. It is located in the border zone between the fertile area of Hebron and its surroundings and the desert of the Hebron Hills. Yatta has about 64,000 inhabitants. The surrounding villages are called Masafar 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, a number of 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 the withholding of 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. Road blocks 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

א-תוואני - מתנדבים מקבוצת הכפרים כשמשטרה וחיילים הגיעו

Apr-24-2024

Muhammad D.

At-Tuwani – volunteers from the Villages Group confronting the police and army

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Meitar

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Sansana (Meitar Crossing)

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The checkpoint is located on the Green Line and serves as a border crossing between Israel and the West Bank. It is managed by the Border Crossing Authority of the Defense Ministry. It is comprised of sections for the transfer of goods as well as a vehicle checkpoint (intended for holders of blue identity cards, foreign nationals or diplomats and international organizations). Passing of Palestinians is prohibited, except for those with entry permits to Israel. Palestinians are permitted to cross on foot only. The crossing has a DCO (District Coordination Office), a customs unit, supervision, and a police unit.

In the last year, a breach has been opened in the fence, not far from the crossing. This breach is known to all, including the army. There does not appear to be any interest in blocking it, probably as it permits needed Palestinian workers without the bureaucratic permits to get to work in Israel. Food stalls and a parking area economy have been created, but incidents of violent abuse by border police have also been recorded.

Updated April 2022