Simia, South Hebron Hills

Place:

Sansana (Meitar Crossing)

South Hebron Hills

Observers:

Raya Y. Translator: Natanya

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May-27-2020

Morning

We passed the Meitar checkpoint

On both sides of the road we saw wheat being harvested manually. In one hand hold a huge "kahoff" sickle and in the other hand a wooden crescent that increases the amount of grain that can be carried at one time. The oats are wrapped every now and then in small packages, which are collected into a large one.

In Simia we met with:Jamal, Farhan, Raid, Salam and Muhammad.

Simia stood by the roadside on an important trade route between Egypt and Syria which was densely populated during the Byzantine period.

Jamal tells us:

This morning at 10am we worked near our home in the village. We loaded pipes on the truck with a crane and didn't notice two young guys with hairlocks who came and took pictures of our homes and a truck.

Jamal asked them: What are you doing here?

Neither of the young men answered him. Jamal did not let them leave until IDF forces arrived. The IDF officer took the details of the young people who came to take pictures and the details of Jamal. The officer informed Jamal that he could go to the South Mount Hebron DCO and complain.

Before the Corona, one or both of them entered the same vehicle (see photo) they were riding in today. They filmed the entire village and fled identifying Jamal approaching the vehicle. The whole group that sat with us is very scared.

Fear that because of being photographed they want to move them just as they did to the people of Susiya.

Wheat harvest in the South Hebron hills

Photo:

Raya Yeor

The car in which the uninvited guests arrived

Photo:

Raya Yeor

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

רהווה - ככה חיה משפחת אבו שארח' ברהווה בוואדי למרגלות ההתנחלות טנא עומרים

Apr-25-2024

Michal Tsadik

Rahwa - this is how the Abu Sharakh family lives in the Wadi at the foot of the Tene Omarim settlement

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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