Sansana, South Hebron Hills, Sun 4.7.10, Morning

Trans.: Bracha B.A.

Sansana-Meitar Crossing, 05:15-08:00
We observed Palestinian workers pass through from the Palestinian side to the Israeli side. Passage was swift by the workers' own testimony, with three lanes open. One of the workers complained that despite the fact that he is over 40 the inspector at the booth told him that he had to go to the lane intended for those under 40.  She would not allow him to go back and retrieve a bag that he had forgotten. The bag was eventually given to him by another worker (this was noted by one of the operators who reads our reports).
Fridays: We were told that on Fridays passage takes close to an hour and a half because only one lane is open and everyone has to go through the X-ray machine.
Restrooms: Workers complain that the restrooms are looked when they're around, apparently opened up for prisoners' families' visits only. Why is this so? We weren't allowed to photograph the locked restrooms – they are evidently a high-security area…

"Ramadin": An Alternative Crossing?
From the Sansana–Meitar crossing we went on to the crossing for those refused entry: the land of the chasers and the smugglers. Here, laborers looking for a days' work must pay drivers 100NIS for the short drive up to the Israeli side. This is done under the watchful gaze of the security forces, who intervene only occasionally. Today, they didn't. M. informed us that Zeit Zeituna is the largest refugee camp in the West Bank.  At Elfawwar's grocery, Leah was impressed by the books in which the owner kept a careful list of all his expenditures and profits.