Hebron, Sansana, South Hebron Hills, Mon 17.12.07, Morning
6:30-9:30
Sansana (Meitar) crossing (6:45)
No workers waiting to go through the crossing. We saw numbers of workers walking along the road in the direction of Meitar.
Route 60
Dura and El Fawwar – checkpoint is open (7:00).
Sheep Junction – checkpoint is open (7:10).
Hebron
It was the last day in Hebron for Givati soldiers. They are to be replaced by Kfir soldiers (7:30-8:45.).
Pharmacy crossing - School children and several adults going through in both directions. A Christian volunteer told us it is more difficult to get visas renewed and that visas are not being granted to people over 60.
Tarpat magnetic crossing - Children and adults passing through the crossing in both directions.
We walked up the hill to Tel Rumeida. Givati soldiers were stationed at the entrance to the street. There were also two police from the Border Police. They told us they do regular patrols there and that it is their responsibility to prevent clashes between the settlers and the Palestinians. In response to our query, they told us that the clashes are instigated by the settlers and that they were protecting the Palestinians. He said the only Palestinians allowed on the street were those who lived in the houses there. If friends wanted to visit, they had to receive permission. We walked at far as Beit Menachem which is a modern building with open shutters. In contrast, the building opposite is an old Arab building with windows and walkways encased in wire mesh protective fencing. An elderly man left the building and he and Yeela began to talk – a conversation which lasted until we returned to the Tarpat crossing. He was born 13 years before the establishment of Israel and remembers the time when relations between neighbors were good and he visited his Jewish neighbors in Beit Hadassah. Now the settlers at times intentionally park so close to his doorway that he has difficulty leaving his house. He was hypervigilant to traffic noises – no doubt from experiences with the settlers and their cars. He was quite philosophically about the situation seeing it as a test of faith from God.
Took the road 60 back to the Meitar crossing. An army jeep was now stationed at the Sheep junction with a soldier standing next to it. Foot traffic was moving freely from one side of the road to the other (9:15).
Meitar crossing - We were told that the crossing in open to traffic and Palestinian workers seven days a week at the usual hours (9:25).