Posted on 04/25/2010 10:56:48 PM PDT by Ready4Freddy
BEIT UR AL-TAHTA, WEST BANK -- For eight years, Israeli commuters have whizzed between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv on Highway 443, a road whose West Bank portion is lined with barriers, off-limits to Palestinians who live along the way.
Naji Suliman, mayor of the Palestinian community of Beit Ur al-Tahta, thought that would change after a decision by Israel's Supreme Court calling for the ban on Palestinians to be lifted by May. Then, after meeting with an Israeli military commander last week, Suliman concluded that Israel's actions came "just for public relations."
To comply with the court ruling, the military plans to create only two entry points within nine miles, and Palestinians would be subject to searches. There are no plans to reopen an artery linking the highway to the commercial hub of Ramallah, which Suliman said is the main reason his residents want access.
The debate over Highway 443 illustrates a fundamental rub in the West Bank: If the Israelis and Palestinians can't agree over how to share nine miles of pavement, how will they ever resolve the far more complex issues that divide them?
From an Israeli viewpoint, allowing Palestinians on the road increases the risk of violence and adds traffic. To Palestinians, the road is another example of Israel's reluctance to make life easier for them in occupied areas.
"The moment you allow people who can harm us free access to this road, it's terrible for us," said Dina Yaakov-Yan, a 24-year-old Israeli student hitching a ride along Highway 443.
"I know that in the Israeli eyes it's very acceptable to say that it's a security problem," said Limor Yehuda, the civil rights lawyer who filed the initial court petition on behalf of the Palestinians. "But it's not a security problem. It's an economic and transportation issue."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Ping for your lists.
I bet any of her US family voted for Obama.
If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.
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What palestinian terrorists used access to the roads for, killing Jews, shouldn't enter into the decision. The fact is that if the palestinians weren't locked in a culture of barbarism, they'd wander all of Israel at will.
I have a great idea Limor. Why don’t we make this hwy only accessible to you, your Leftist cohorts who want to destroy Israel, and the Palies. Let’s see how long you last when the Palies start murdering you and your loved ones. It give you a feeling that you have never felt before. Maybe then and only then will you change your mind.
I think all of the Israeli Leftists should be forced to stay in the same cage with the Palies. When the Leftists start screaming bloody murder use the same accusative language against them that they use on the Right.
“You are so intolerant! You are such a racist! If you would just lie down and take it then this would happen! You have such an oppressive attitude toward your friends! Why is that? Do you think you are so much better than the Palies because you choose not to murder them and they choose to murder you? Just accept it and get on with life! If you try and protect yourself you are just lowering yourself to their level and that makes you just as bad as them! Just throw more money at them and they will stop being so violent! Don’t you know that poverty causes murder and high crime rates? Give them a job! Give them all your property and land! If you do all of that plus give them your very lives, the lives of your wives, children, grand children, and grand parents they will finally be at peace! Allah hu FUBAR!!!!!!”
In just eight months from December 2000 to August 2001, six Israelis were murdered, and many more were injured in terrorist attacks along Highway 443. Palestinian gunmen found it extremely simple to open fire on Israeli passenger vehicles and make a quick escape onto the numerous access roads that led to Arab villages along the highway.
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