HEBRON, occupied West Bank -- Muhanned Qafesha, a resident of Tel
Rumeida, Hebron, takes Mondoweiss through the arduous journey some
residents of the city have been subjected to after Israeli forces made
the town a closed military zone in November.

Following the
establishment of the closed military zone Israel implemented a new
number system in the area. Each household within the zone was given an
ID number which is now necessary to be able to access Tel Rumaida.
Anyone without a number is barred from entering the town.

Many
residents and visitors alike have instead chosen to take a footpath
through the muddy back-hills of Tel Rumeida to get home, instead of
being subjected the military checkpoint at the city center. The Israeli
checkpoint used to be the more convenient entrance to their town, but
now can take hours as Israel "heightens security."

While the
footpath is dangerous, and non-residents taking the path are doing so
illegally, Qafesha said many choose to take the alternative entrance out
of protest, while others take it because they have no other choice.

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