Hebron, Sansana (Meitar Crossing)

We wished to assist a Palestinian to retrieve items which belonged to him. This is often the case when Palestinians prisoners are released from jail.

Before the shift, we went to the Shikma prison in Ashkelon, hoping to receive his belongings in accordance with his own request and in coordination with Sylvia. But, it turns out that the objects had not been left there but had been sent with him to Saharonim Prison where they were left. After a few phone calls between the prisons it was promised that everything would be sent to the Be'er Sheva prison and they would let us know when this would take place.

We had to travel to Hebron without being able to return his belongings to the man who had waited for them to be returned to him. (It is obvious to all that no Palestinian can move around Israel without his documents without being again arrested).

I once again raised the issue with the prison superintendent: the lack of consideration for the release of detainees without the telephone, wallet, certificates and other personal belongings. He listened, showed understanding but claimed he is a small screw. We need to write about this to the Prisons Commission, maybe they will understand that this is unnecessary abuse, beyond the prison sentence / detention.

Hebron:

At their request, we went to the Ja'bari family, The family lives at the foot of Kiryat Arba in the fertile and beautiful valley which is full of vineyards. The land of the family was nationalized and Kiryat Arba was built on these lands in 1968. Since then the authorities have been trying to confiscate more and more hand by piling up difficulties made by the Israeli authorities. Several times they have already had all their irrigation equipment taken away, not allowed water or fined on the pretext of stealing water. In the past year there have been several incidents of settlers coming at night to harass and intimidate Ate Jaber's cousin, Also attempts to settle on his land which is across the road, on the hills overlooking the entrance to Kiryat Arba.

At the meeting, they again spoke about their fear of a plan for laying down water pipes which would pass through their land but is intended for the people of Kiryat Arba, and they were not told that they would not be supplied with water which would simply stream past them. Of course no one shares any information or explains. Only by the arrogance of the settlers and their behavior does the family feel that things are about to happen.

"They're just doing everything to get us out of here," one of the family members tells us.

They see the beginnings of various developmental plans and are constantly apprehensive. The neighborhood that really "sits on their heads" is the "Nofei Mamre" neighborhood, which was also established on land that was stolen from them. The neighborhood is cut off from Kiryat Arba, because between it and the city are the vineyards of the family (still), and the trend of creating territorial contiguity there, is quite clear.

They have lawyers who handle all their struggles, but everything is exhausting and discouraging.

We will continue to be in touch with them and report.

On our return, the breach in the fence near the Meitar checkpoint was "blocked", but according to the movement of the people in the surrounding hills, this will soon be the order of the day again.