Sansana (Meitar Crossing), South Hebron Hills, Susiya

Place:

Sansana (Meitar Crossing)

South Hebron Hills

Susiya

Observers:

Smadar and Michal (reporting and photographing); Translator: Natanya

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Aug-10-2021

Morning

ליד מבני המועצה האזורית דרום הר חברון - השתלטות על קרקע פלסטינית

Seizing Palestinian land next to the Regional Council

Photo:

Michal Tsadik

Near Meitar the hole in the fence has not been repaired and many workers continue to pass. The need to bring home bread is stronger than anything and the State of Israel probably understands this and turns a blind eye. A few billion more or less, who cares. Chelm is run safely.

We went to an area following a report from a man who lives right next to the buildings of the Southern Hebron Mountains Regional Council. He said that heavy mechanical equipment had invaded his land and began preparing the ground for what appeared to be construction plans. Indeed, this is how it seems. The buildings in the picture all belong to the Southern Hebron Mountain Council.

Nasser Nawaja', from Susiya, leads us to the place. We were happy to see that the Palestinian shepherd was not alone. Two young men arrived. These are the young people who come from the center of the country because they wish to help guard these people from the settlers and stay with them. This is their way of protesting against the occupation. These young people inspire us and we have the hope that there are others who care, and will continue to protest against the occupation when we can no longer continue our struggle. The shepherd continued to graze his sheep but was worried of course. They stayed with him because he had called the police and was waiting for them. We could not stay because there is no knowing when the police would arrive.

Nasser also returned to Susiya. We hope you saw the video from Wednesday showing how badly he was knocked around by the soldiers when protesting demolitions.

We also went to Susiya to visit Azzam and Wadha and to find out how they are. We were glad they went through this period in peace. Azzam, who is over 55, says he worked in Israel, but now it is also difficult for people his age, if there is no contractor and broker who approves his employment.

He tells of the blackmailers who take advantage of them. I thought of the break near the gap in the fence ... unhindered.

When convictions and stupidity are used interchangeably.

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

Apr-10-2024

Muhammad D.

Sa'ir - Yael and Ahmad

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Meitar

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Susiya

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The Palestinian area lies between the settlement of Susya and a military base.
The residents began to settle in areas outside the villages in the 1830s and lived in caves, tents and sukkot. To this day they maintain a traditional lifestyle and their livelihood is based on agriculture and herding. Until the 1948 war, the farmers cultivated areas that extended to the Arad area. As a result of the war, a significant portion of their land left on the Israeli side was lost. After the 1967 war and the Israeli occupation, military camps were established in the area, fire zones and nature reserves were declared, and the land area was further reduced.

The Jewish settlement in Susya began in 1979. Since then, there has been a stubborn struggle to remove the remains of Palestinian residents who refuse to leave their place of birth and move to nearby town Yatta. With the development of a tourist site in Khirbet Susya in the late 1980s (an ancient synagogue), dozens of families living in caves in its vicinity were deported. In the second half of the 1990s, a new form of settlement developed in the area - shepherds' farms of individual settlers. This phenomenon increased the tension between the settlers and the original, Palestinian residents, and led to repeated harassment of the residents of the farms towards the Palestinians. At the same time, demolition of buildings and crop destruction by security forces continued, as well as water and electricity prevention. In the Palestinian Susya, as in a large part of the villages of the southern Hebron Mountains, there is no running water, but the water pipe that supplies water to the Susya Jewish settlement passes through it. Palestinians have to buy expensive water that comes in tankers. Solar electricity is provided by a collector system, installed with donation funds. But the frequent demolitions in the villages do not spare water cisterns or the solar panels and power poles designed to transfer solar electricity between the villages.

Updated April 2021, Anat T.

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