Route 4370 (Israel)
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Road 4370 | |
|---|---|
| Eastern Ring Road כביש הטבעת המזרחי | |
 Highway 1 - Route 4370 Junction (Al-Issawiya Junction) - one can see the barrier between the Israeli and the Palestinian lanes | |
| Route information | |
| Length | 3.7 km (2.3 mi) |
| Existed | 9 January 2019–present |
| Location | |
| Country | Israel |
| Major cities | Jerusalem |
| Highway system | |
Route 4370 or Eastern Ring Road, is a highway that connects the Geva Binyamin settlement in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Jerusalem. It has been referred to by its critics as an "apartheid road" due to the fact that parts of it have separate traffic for Israeli plates and Palestinian plates.[1][2][3][4][5]
Access control lanes
Separate lanes carry those who have a permit to enter Jerusalem and those who do not. The western lane is designed for people without a Jerusalem permit and does not pass through the Hizme checkpoint. The eastern lane is designed for those with a permit. Citizens of Israel can pass freely, while West Bank Palestinians require a permit from Israeli authorities. The two lanes are separated by an 8-meter-high (26 ft) concrete wall, topped with metal fencing. The road allows the residents of the Binyamins Region to enter Jerusalem with easier access to French Hill and Mount Scopus.[6]
History
Construction of the road began in 2005 and ended in 2017.[7] Before its 9 January 2019[7] opening it was renovated by Moriah, the infrastructure company of the municipality of Jerusalem.[8] The road was opened by Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan; head of the Binyamin Regional Council Yisrael Gantz; and Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion. While the West Bank hosts several highways with different lanes for Israelis and Palestinians, only Route 4370 has a concrete wall spanning its length.[8]
Erdan said the highway was "an example of the ability to create coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians while guarding (against) the existing security challenges," while the Palestinian Authority called Route 4370 an apartheid road and condemned the silence of the international community over its construction.[9]
References
- ^ "Focus - The 'apartheid road': West Bank highway sparks controversy". France 24. February 4, 2019.
- ^ "New Jerusalem 'Apartheid Road' Opens, Separating Palestinians and Jewish Settlers" – via Haaretz.
- ^ "Protest closes Israel's 'apartheid road' through West Bank". the Guardian. January 23, 2019.
- ^ Giovannetti, Megan. "Israel opens 'apartheid road' in occupied West Bank". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
- ^ "Road opens with segregated lanes for Israelis, Palestinians". UPI.
- ^ Ian Lee. "A wall runs through it: New road divides Israelis and Palestinians". CNN. Retrieved 2019-01-23.
- ^ a b "New highway separates Israelis, Palestinians". Detroit News. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
- ^ a b Gantz, David A. (2009-01-08). "Regional Trade Agreements". Oxford Handbooks Online. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199231928.013.0010.
- ^ "Israel opens segregated West Bank highway near Jerusalem". Ynetnews. 2019-10-01. Retrieved 2019-01-24.