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Photo: Niv Calderon
MK Arieh Eldad
Photo: Niv Calderon
Discrimination against Jews, MK Ben-Ari
Photo: Dudi Vaaknin
Defense Minister Ehud Barak
Photo: AFP

MKs warn opening Hebron route 'will endanger Jewish lives'

National Union MKs tour route leading from Kiryat Arba to Tomb of the Patriarchs which is soon to be opened for Palestinian traffic, say prime minister 'has no mandate to transfer lands'

National Union MKs toured the West Bank city of Hebron on Monday afternoon to closer examine the Zion Route, which the IDF is seeking to open to Palestinian traffic. The three MKs tried to enter the Palestinian side of the city, but their attempt was blocked on the orders of Defense Minister Ehud Barak.

 

The route, which connects the settlement Kiryat Arba to the Tom of the Patriarchs, has been closed for a long time following a series of terror attacks that took place on it. Residents of Hebron and Kiryat Arba have asked that the route remain closed, warning that it will endanger their lives and lead to bloodshed. The MKs visited the area on Monday under heavy security.

 

Spokesman for the Jewish community in Hebron, Noam Arnon, told the MKs that "hundreds of thousands of Jews use the route every year. Dozens of Jews have been murdered on and around the route in the past, opening it could be a source of real danger.

 

Malachi Levinger, chairman of the Kiryat Arba-Hebron municipality, says that "this fight is not only for the residents of Kiryat Arba and Hebron, it is for thousands of Jews."

 

The MKs had sought to tour the Palestinian side of Hebron (known as H1) as well, but their request was denied by Barak on Sunday.

 

MK Arieh Eldad addressed the decision during the visit: "It's sad and pathetic for the defense minister to first authorize our entry and then panic over something and run away. (Prime Minister) Netanyahu doesn't have the mandate to sign off on a Palestinian state or the transfer of lands."

 

Fellow MK Michael Ben Ari added: "You need to understand that opening the Zion Route is another link in the Oslo chain that aims to push out the settling of Judea and Samaria. Barak can't hide behind the claim of freedom of movement. If there is freedom of movement for Arabs, then we are here to demand freedom of movement for Jews."

 


פרסום ראשון: 05.18.09, 19:20
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