Hebron, Sansana (Meitar Crossing), South Hebron Hills, Sun 10.3.13, Morning
Translator: Charles K.
Meitar crossing
Three buses with relatives of prisoners, a new fence in the shed where Palestinian laborers wait on their way to the revolving gates
and the fenced corridors that finally lead them to their work day in Israel. Rubbish fills the parking lot; a stench rises from the valley of Hebron’s stream; the bathrooms are in an acceptable condition. Never-ending earthworks move sand around. Five trucks in line ahead of us. One attractive Palestinian woman and a merchant are the only one’s crossing while we’re there – everyone says things were ok this morning. But one person again complains he’s been blacklisted by the Shabak and can’t earn a living.
There’s nothing new under the sun – no horror stories, just the terrible ugliness and the a-priori demonization.
Routes 60 and 317
Very few military vehicles. Many red signs warning against entering Area A. The cantonization system, inherited from South Africa, reducing the size of Area A, defining regions within it in order to expropriate all the rest… (that’s what happens under the influence of “the lords of the land”)
Hebron
Five vehicles belonging to the Israel Electric Company are parked at the Kiryat Arba gas station for a briefing by DCO representatives before driving in a convoy to Hebron through the barrier at Giv’at Ha’Avot – they have a big job and “benefit” from military protection. We didn’t ask what the job was.
The army patrol leaves Beit HaMeriva. The remaining checkpoints are manned by the Border Police. A Palestinian near Beit HaMeriva tells us about difficulties organizing family reunifications between refugees in Jordan and Palestinian citizens. We asked him to call this evening to provide more details – we may be able to help.
The new apartheid fence next to the Cave of the Patriarchs.
Again we show this town’s horrors under the “bloodless” occupation that has made all its residents almost indifferent…
The only remaining evidence of Friday’s large demonstration at the Beit Haggai checkpoint are the empty tin cans the soldiers left behind.
An ordinary day’s little horrors.