Hebron, Sansana, South Hebron Hills, Thu 2.10.08, Morning

Date: 02/10/2008 ,Morning

Observers: Zipi, Na'ama (reporting)

Hebron

According to Wye Plantation Accords (1997), Hebron is divided in two: H1 is under Palestinian Authority control, H2 is under Israeli control. In Hebron there are 170,000 Palestinian citizens, 60,000 of them in H2. Between the two areas are permanent checkpoints, manned at all hours, preventing Palestinian movement between them and controlling passage of permit holders such as teachers and schoolchildren. Some 800 Jews live in Avraham Avinu Quarter and Tel Rumeida, on Givat HaAvot and in the wholesale market.

Checkpoints observed in H2:

Bet Hameriva CP- manned with a pillbox
Kapisha quarter CP (the northern side of Zion axis) - manned with a pillbox
The 160 turn CP (the southern side of Zion axis) - manned with a pillbox
Avraham Avinu quarter - watch station
The pharmacy CP - checking inside a caravan with a magnometer
Tarpat (1929) CP - checking inside a caravan with a magnometer
Tel Rumeida CP - guarding station
Beit Hadassah CP - guarding station

Three checkpoints around the Tomb of the Patriarchs

Close description

Meytar CP
Although it is early prisoners' families are waiting for the buses to the prisons. They are quickly checked and allowed to pass. Among them we met a woman on a wheel chair who is taken by one of the workers in the CP and a small girl whose parents are both in prison.

Road 60
2 new blockades were seen, one in Arabe, and down another village, preventing the drive from the villages to the main road.

Hebron
Due to the holiday the roads are empty, schools are closed. Pharmacy CP is deserted,. 2 soldiers and a Boarder Policeman are watching the empty Tel Rumaida CP.

We were told a funny story about those days in Hebron: Israeli soldiers found a group of Palestinian soldiers walking in the city. The Israeli soldiers, assuming they found terrorists, took them to their post. A quarrel was started between the two groups and only the DCO people succeeded to end the event.