South Hebron Hills, Susiya, Zif Junction

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Observers: 
Judy (photographing) and Leah (reporting); Translator: Natanya
Nov-15-2021
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Morning
שלט מחצבות
כוחותינו מפרקים את המבנה

1. Meitar checkpointg  7 p.m. In the parking lot on the Israeli side, buses - families of prisoners on their way to visit a prison in Israel. Towards the end of the  passage for the workers, there are still very many  (including 3 women, waiting to be transported to work in the Ramon camp), many  cars in makeshift parking lots all around. Everyone says it's the most efficient crossing, the crossing manager sometimes moves to the Palestinian side to check the crossing arrangements. Someone complains that in the  afternoon when many workers return, cars are waiting for them up the hill on Route 60 after turning right in the direction of Shim'a, etc. Here the police hand out reports wholesale for stopping illegally. They ask that a legitimate parking area should be made there.

On the way to Ramadin. At the turn, in a strictly Zionist cement block  in front of a guard post of soldiers. Before turning to Dahariya, a wide new road is paved in a northerly direction. It turns out that this is a way out of a Palestinian private quarry in Area A, probably according to an arrangement between the PA and Israel. Later, the road ends at the western entrance to Ramadin, next to the high and threatening separation fence that surrounds the Eshkolot , a settlement in an area that is de facto annexed to Israel (like Beit Yatir), and the entrance to it is of course not from here but from Israel.

On the road to the settlement Tene-Omarim, a sign about  Israeli quarries indicating interesting non-local business partnerships, including Kfar Giladi (!). At the entrance to the settlement, Palestinian cars of those working in the settlement and instructions to leave the vehicles outside the settlement (the arrangement I know from the Gush Etzion area: there is one Palestinian who is  coordinated with the settlement itself, and it serves as the "rais" (the boss0  of other workers). . Nearby, the sign indicating the integration of residents as well as trees from Gush Katif in this settlement (Photo No. 4).

A phone call from  Nasser from Susiya to find out if we can come today. It turns out that he is on his way to documenting the demolition of houses in the town of Bany Hever (near the settlement of Pney Hever, southeast of Bany Naim). From here began our pursuit together with Nasser and other Palestinian activists after the demolition force.

We first saw them at the point where the demolition forces are gathered  descending east from the main road Bani Naim: two soldiers with drawn weapons secure the intersection, in front of a bulldozer truck, vehicles that look like the Civil Administrationinfo-icon  and other cars with an Israeli license (GSS?). We wait on the side, then the  force goes out south and localizes on the village of Rafia, east of the road in the area of ​​Masafer Yatta, south of Zif. . There is no sign at the entrance to the village, and we get lost here and there as we drove according to vague and contradictory instructions of passers-by, until we arrived.

The entrance was probably once blocked by concrete blocks because the first meters are completely ruined, and only beyond them does the inner road begin. The passage to the demolition area is blocked by the aforementioned demolition force that looks like an IDF operation headquarters which it to conquer  a large and fortified target. We are watching what is happening downhill, together with the villagers and Palestinian activists: the State of Israel against a dilapidated structure - a shed or a house - built from scrap metal. In the distance are the shouts of the truck driver of the bulldozer, claiming that there is no way he will be able to enter the path leading to the building. That's why some determined heroes climb a ladder with a screwdriver and dismantle the structure with their own hands (see photos). Around them they are guarded by our wonderful soldiers

Every Hebrew mother should know  exactly what her son has enlisted for. There is no connection to security, an expensive operation in anyone’s opinion , wasteful and unnecessary, abuse just to abuse  an occupied population. Because these demolitions occur completely randomly, this is the definition of terrorism - imposing fear on the entire population precisely because there is no logic. No system and no way anyone can avoid falling a victim to this policy.