In approximately two months, a pivotal segment of the Huwara bypass will be inaugurated, providing residents with a secure means of travel that circumvents the perilous Palestinian village of Huwara. This village has tragically seen the murder of four Israelis over the past half-year.
Transport Minister Miri Regev and the Head of the Samaria Council, Yossi Dagan, inspected the roadway this Wednesday. They announced an expedited schedule that will open this crucial part of the bypass two months ahead of the original timetable.
Decided to put together a video to show Huwara and Route 60 and the very slow progress on the much-needed bypass road. As with all things Israel - it's complicated, the road is Israeli while the sides of the road are under PA. https://t.co/GoCcGuOhd5
— RealJerusalemStreets (@RealJStreets) August 21, 2023
Huwara has become a locus of danger for Israelis in recent times. Some of the most heinous terrorist attacks over the past year have occurred there, including the murder of the Yaniv brothers last February and a horrifying assault two weeks ago that claimed the lives of Shay Nigarker and his son, Aviad Nir. Given the high level of risk and the unavoidable necessity for Israelis to pass through the village to reach their homes and workplaces, military forces have been deployed for security.
The construction of the Huwara bypass stands as a momentous achievement, largely attributable to a persistent campaign led by Yossi Dagan, local authorities, and grieving families. Their protests, which began approximately six years ago, even included a hunger strike to express their disapproval of governmental inaction.
Military control. But in terms of access, I believe Israelis can and do enter. Huwara is partly located in B, partly located in C. There's no restriction on Jews entering, and it's the one of the few areas in the WB where there is no bypass road for settlers who live nearby.
— Joshua Parkhurst🥀🟣 (@JoshuaParkhurst) August 25, 2023
Initial roadwork commenced about two years ago but encountered numerous delays. However, the killing of the Yaniv brothers catalyzed Minister Regev to accelerate the project. She approved an additional budget of 50 million shekels, with the project’s total cost reaching 384 million NIS. The entire project, which spans a seven-and-a-half-kilometer dual carriageway, including three interchanges and four agricultural crossings, is expected to be fully operational by this December.
During the tour, Minister Regev expressed her sentiments, saying, "This is an exciting closure for me. This is a life-saving road that augments security and safety for the residents." Yossi Dagan, the head of the Samaria Council, concurred and expanded on the implications of the project. "This is momentous news for the residents of Judea and Samaria, and indeed for all Israelis," Dagan noted. "This bypass serves not just as a critical security measure but also represents a significant step towards achieving the aim of one million Israeli residents in the Samaria region."
Without an alternative, residents of Judea and Samaria are forced to drive through the dangerous Palestinian town, where four Israelis have been killed in the past six months.https://t.co/2MlBZLpe3m#Israel #Hawara #Huwara #terrorism #terrorist #terrorattack #shooting
— Israel Hayom English (@IsraelHayomEng) August 31, 2023
This ambitious project reaffirms Israel's commitment to ensuring the security and well-being of its citizens, even as it continues to face significant security challenges.
