Checkpooints in Hebron

Route 60

The weather is gray and cold, little traffic.

Dura-Al-Fawwar intersection - the kiosks were dismantled, and the planks were thrown to the ground.

The new outpost in front of Eshtamoa, which is marked by a large flag, is expanding and 4 buildings are already visible in the area.

Hebron

Cold, rainy and quiet.

The paratroopers'  Shfifon  unit is now in the city. The soldiers are gathered in huts because of the weather. Those not on duty enjoy Anat Cohen's free hot drink stand near Beit Hadassah.

We go to to the grocery store in Tel Rumaida to leave an envelope for the neighbour, Bassam.

On the way down, the checkpoint, Tarpat, has renewed its appearance, receiving new names in each of the languages, the most prominent being the "policeman's checkpoint".

A closed gate has been placed on the stairs going down from the Córdoba school and only the residents of the area above are allowed to go up or down the stairs. We witnessed a long interrogation of a woman by the soldier at the post . Only after she gave her name, her ID number and her number on the list of residents was she allowed to pass, the soldier opened the gate for her.

In front of the wholesale market we met a group of teenagers from Germany, tourists who were  being guided in Germany  by a man who introduced himself as an archaeologist living in Jerusalem.

We met another group of tourists at the souvenir shop of the late Abed. Their guide from Beit Sahur explained to us that there is always work, everyone comes for a tour of Hebron – which allows for a nutshell illustration of the conflict.

We finished checking the checkpoints at the 160 turn – the  gate was opened  to allow a woman with a baby carriage to pass, more easily than through the turnstiles.

Route 317

A colourful and large mosque was built at the Zif junction.

In front of the Carmel settlement, a large area was fenced off, posts were inserted and a vineyard was probably planted.

The settlement of Asael expands towards the east, terraces have been  erected for construction, and a dirt road has been  paved for the new neighbourhood.

The illegal sheep farms of Kaplan and Yinon are becoming more established  and new buildings are added.  Abu Safi reports that Kaplan and Yinon regularly go down with their sheep to graze on the lands of the Palestinians.

At the Meitar checkpoint, the parking lot is full of cars even though not all farmers work in this kind of weather. This time we went through a more serious interrogation and document check than usual by a (probably new) policeman who didn't like it that we defined ourselves as friends of Mohammad.