Dura-Al Fawwar Junction, Hakvasim (sheep) Junction, Hebron, Sansana (Meitar Crossing), South Hebron Hills

Place:

Dura-Al Fawwar Junction

Hakvasim (sheep) Junction

Hebron

Sansana (Meitar Crossing)

South Hebron Hills

Observers:

Nili, Hagit (report and photos); Translator: Tal H.

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Jul-11-2016

Morning

At Meitar checkpoint, nine buses carrying prisoners’ families have crossed over successfully, the drivers say. In general, a much smaller number of workers get through to work – work permits have been surprisingly and suddenly denied.

After the recent terrorist attacks the army decided to encircle Hebron under “breathing blockade”, namely checkpoints, barriers and ‘gates info-icon ’. Palestinians are fortunate to run into manned checkpoints, then they are able to get through in vehicles.

The army thus wishes to prevent friction between soldiers and Palestinians, and prefers unmanned barriers. Today, following the shooting near Teko’a, Sa’ir too was encircled.

This is what “breathing encirclement info-icon ” looks like.

Samo’a – closed off with unmanned barrier – Dahariya is open – all the other localities as well as additional neighborhoods inside Hebron are blocked off. Children use the barriers to make some money. This following clip was taken at the barrier between Dahariya and Ramadin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBBIq5T1lfA&feature=em-upload_owner

The settlers are using the situation to promote construction and increase pressure on the government.

Mitzpe Avichai is manned anew with tents and an Israeli flag

בכניסה לקריית ארבע ליד גבעת החרסינה — At the entrance to Qiryat Arba

Inside Hebron

Between Giv’at Gal and the Tamimi family house a barrier has been added.
The soldiers no longer stand watch over Giv’at Ha’Avot, and construction of the Hazon David synagogue continues.

We stop at Abed’s, and this is a view of the Border Police checkpoint there, at the entrance to the Cave of the Fathers.

Border Police checkpoint at the entrance to the Cave of the Fathers

At 'Abed’s we hear the story of A. who came to testify at the ‘shooting soldier’s’ trial, and immediately following this, his permit to enter Israel was taken from him. We try to help him…

After seeing a youngster detained at 'Abed Checkpoint for over 40 minutes, we hear that young men ages 15-30 are not allowed into the area of the Cave of the Fathers at times when there is no prayer ongoing in the cave.

The youngsters complain to the TIPH

“Enlightened occupation”

Location Description

Hakvasim (sheep) Junction

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One of the roadblocks (earthworks, rocks, concrete blocks or iron gates info-icon ) that prevent transit of vehicles to Route 60 in the southern West Bank and block the southern entrance to Hebron. A manned pillbox supervises the place.

Dura/Al Fawwar Junction

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Junction on Route 60: west - the town of El Dura, east - the Al Fawwar refugee camp. There is a manned pillbox at the junction. From time to time the army sets up flying checkpoints at the entrance to El Fawwar and Al Dura. Al-Fawwar is a large refugee camp (7,000 inhabitants in 2007) established in 1949 to accommodate Palestinian refugees from Be'er Sheva and Beit Jubrin and environs. There are many incidents of stone-throwing. In the vicinity of the pillbox there are excellent agricultural areas, Farmers set up stalls adjacent to the plots close to the road. In recent months the civil administration info-icon has set up dirt embankments thereby blocking access to the stalls, and making it impossible for the farmers to sell their vegetables.

Updated April 2021, Michal T.

Hebron

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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 info-icon , 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

תעודת ההוקרה שקיבל אדריס המנוח מהישוב היהודי בחברון כשהציל יהודי מלינץ כשטעה בדרך

Mar-27-2024

Michal Tsadik

The certificate of appreciation that the late Idris received from the Jewish settlement in Hebron when he saved a Jew who had lost his way from lynch

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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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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