Sansana (Meitar Crossing), South Hebron Hills
The day of memorial for Yasser Arafat
The checkpoint was open and all the workers had passed , even though it was a Sunday. Both Route 60 and 317 were quite open, and we saw only one jeep that was not in a hurry and let us through it, which is not always the case. We drove directly to Tuwani and there was a procession around the villages - Umm Tuba, and others whose residents joined. There were banners and posters with the portrait of the Rais, some school children and more adults which is to be noted. Two young men (in their twenties) were very embarrassed when asked to hold pictures. Some of the old villagers left as there "was work" they declared. Fortunately the procession passed safely and no settlers nor even the army interfered! By the way: a new neighborhood, small permanent homes and infrastructure, appeared in the Ma'on settlement. It is clearly visible from Tuwani.